Showing posts with label Scottsdale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scottsdale. Show all posts

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Phoenix AZ Area Million Dollar Home Sales

Phoenix AZ Area Million Dollar Home Sales


Scottsdale home sells for $5.7M

A Scottsdale land developer, a founder and CEO of an information technology group and two local Realtors, are among the buyers and sellers in this week's done deals.

$5,791,500.

Richard and Kimberly Cabral bought a new 10,645 square-foot home with five bedrooms, seven bathrooms plus two powder rooms, bonus room, kids retreat, game room, library with fireplace, office theatre, gourmet kitchen with two islands, six-car garage, plus detached casita has two bedrooms and living room with fireplace. This Calvis Wyant luxury home on four and a half acres is northeast of the Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale.

$4,995,000.

Stuart and Mary Rhea purchased a new 8,400 square-foot home with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The master suite has an exercise room with bar and two flat screens. There is a library and office with fireplace and private patios; formal living room, dining room with wine room and butlers pantry; huge gourmet kitchen opening to oversized family room, three en-suite bedrooms, media room, game room; and a separate guest house out by a party gazebo and diving pool, A/C garages and Crestron Smart house. This luxury home at Mummy Mountain is on the southwest side of the Camelback Golf Club in Paradise Valley. Stuart Rhea is the founder and CEO of Tolt Service Group, a nationwide provider of outsourced technology field services. He has spent over 30 years in the information technology field.

$3,170,000.

Kent Bowerbank and Leslie Bowerbank, as Trustees of the Bowerbank Trust, paid cash for a 6,991 square-foot home with 650 square-foot pool originally built in 1999. Kent Bowerbank is a Realtor with Embassy Properties in Phoenix.

$3,125,000.

Michael L. White, as Trustee of the Statice Revocable Trust, purchased new home west of the Camelback Golf Club in the Morton Mesa Subdivision of Paradise Valley.

$3,100,000.

Robert D. MacMillan and Mary Hazel MacMillan, as Trustees of the Robert D. MacMillan Family Trust, paid cash for a 4,565 square-foot home with 704 square-foot pool originally built in 1977 on over two acres on the west side of the Camelback Golf Club in Paradise Valley.
Source: AZ Republic
Ready to find a home at a great price in the Phoenix Metro Area. Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888. We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Phoenix AZ MLS for free at http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Ritz-Carlton remains committed to Paradise Valley

Ritz-Carlton remains committed to PV

PARADISE VALLEY - The proposed Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley Resort will not go to another community.

The project planned northwest of Lincoln Drive and Scottsdale Road received a setback last week when a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled that a referendum challenging the project could be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot.

But Jerry Ayoub, president and chief executive officer of Scottsdale-based Five Star Development, this week sought to clarify a statement released by the company after the ruling about what might happen next.
"Other communities have solicited us to move the project; that is a fact. However, we have worked for three years to establish trust with Paradise Valley officials and residents," Ayoub said in a prepared statement.

"Collectively, we have created a project that we can all be proud of for decades to come. Our commitment to the community has not wavered and we believe that the Ritz-Carlton is a perfect fit for Paradise Valley," Ayoub added.

The Paradise Valley Town Council unanimously approved the project on April 10. But a citizens group called Preserve Our Paradise, which opposes the density of some of the project's homes, collected enough petition signatures to force a referendum.

Five Starr challenged the referendum in court, but was turned down by Judge Peter Swann. Five Starr has not decided whether to appeal.

Tonight, the Town Council will consider setting a Nov. 4 election date for the referendum. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Paradise Valley Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive.

The project calls for a 225-room resort hotel and 161 residences ranging from 1-acre home sites to patio homes on 105 acres.

Ayoub said the project's team maintains that the overwhelming majority of Paradise Valley residents are behind the project. He said Five Star has, and will continue, to have immense support from town residents and officials.

"It's unfortunate that such a small group of people can cause this significant of a delay after we've worked tirelessly with neighbors and officials to get this project right and get it unanimously approved. However, we are confident in Paradise Valley's acceptance of the Ritz-Carlton," Ayoub said.

The council also will vote to give the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau an additional $25,000 in annual funding. That would bring the total to $625,000 to promote the town's resorts and $75,000 in special funding to support the Fiesta Bowl.

At its 4 p.m. work-study session, the council will discuss the mayoral selection process. In Paradise Valley, the council elects the mayor, not voters. Vernon Parker, who was chosen mayor June 12, would support voters doing so. He requested the council discussion.

Ready to find a home at a great price in the Phoenix Metro Area. Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888. We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Phoenix AZ MLS for free at http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/

Friday, December 14, 2007

Canadians snap up Arizona homes

Canadians snap up Arizona homes

CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) - Two hours after his flight landed in Phoenix, Calgary resident Doug Farley already was cruising the city's vast stuccoed suburbs in search of the one attraction Canadians can't seem to get enough of these days, cheap homes.

There are thousands of them here: almost new, unoccupied and dropping in value. The mortgage meltdown, combined with a surging Canadian currency, has Farley - and many of his countrymen - dreaming of winter golf on grass that's always green.

"My dollar's the same as your dollar, finally," Farley said, grinning as he peered through a pool fence at a sparsely populated condominium complex in Chandler, a Phoenix suburb.

For moderate-income Canadians like Farley, the race is on to take advantage of the "loonie," which in September reached parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1976. Many are combing the Internet for anxious American home sellers and looking with an investor's eye at the condos they rented while on vacation in sunbelt states.

"Now it's more than just the snowbird coming down and staying in a condo. It's people looking for business opportunity," said Frank Nero, president of the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County's economic development arm in south Florida.

Canadian condo-builder Solterra Group of Companies also is riding the surge in the Canadian economy as it plans to snatch large chunks of land in Las Vegas. Michael Bosa, the company's vice president for development and acquisition, said the loonie has bolstered his company's bids.

Now's the time to buy, he said. Alberta, a three-and-a-half-hour flight from Phoenix, is experiencing a modern-day gold rush from booming work in its vast oil sands.

"Fifteen of my friends are on buying trips down here, and we're all cheap," Sirockman said. He brought his family to Scottsdale this month while he submitted a lowball all-cash offer for a three-bedroom home.

"I don't want to take advantage of a guy who's having trouble in the market and is losing his shorts," Sirockman said. "But I have no problem with a guy from California who bought on spec and has five houses in Arizona and never lived in them."

Single family homes and condos in the Phoenix metro area now sit an average of 99 days before getting sold. That's three times the wait for homes and four times the wait for condos compared with two years ago, according to the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service.

The market has shifted totally in the buyer's favor, especially those offering cash, said Jeff Russell of Alberta. Last month, Russell snapped up a patio home next to a golf course in Scottsdale with a $299,000 check. It was listed at $463,000.

"I was actually going to come down here and buy a seven-series BMW because cars are ridiculously cheap here," he said. "But I discovered that, forget cars, houses are on deep discount. I could never get anything on a golf course as nice in Canada for this type of money."

Real estate agents in Phoenix, especially those with Canadian ties, are hustling to reach potential buyers up north while the American housing market and the U.S. dollar continue to slump.

"When I take them to a brand new subdivision, and for $210,000 can get them four bedrooms, 2,000 square feet, all appliances, brand new, that's something they haven't been able to buy in Canada for 10 or 15 years. In my opinion, everyone should be buying now."

"When (the Canadian dollar) hit a dollar ten, it really created a real buzz for Canadians, not only those looking to buy second homes but we're also seeing it from buying purely from an investment standpoint," Dziedzic said.

As he searched for his new winter home, Farley kept an eye out for condos near a pool. When it got cold in Calgary, that's where his family would be.

"I just want the ability to go outside, you know, the ability to go for a walk," Farley said. He left for Calgary with a few strong choices, but he didn't bid on anything.

Sirockman also returned to Canada without a house after the owner of the Scottsdale home turned down his offer. No worries. Sirockman told the seller there were a thousand other homes like his on the market, and someone was going to deal.

As he was about to get on the flight back to Edmonton, Sirockman called his friends, and they told him it's 28 below zero back home.

"That's what I'm flying into," he said with a sigh. "I brought a big down-filled jacket with me. I'm looking like an idiot getting onto the plane."
The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2007 12:00 PM


Thursday, December 13, 2007

Scottsdale: Making 'your home one with the landscape'

Scottsdale: Making 'your home one with the landscape'


All steel, glass and concrete, the modular geometry of David and Eileen Hovey's home unexpectedly unites with the desert's free form.

View more photos of this really cool Scottsdale AZ home

Horizontal planes reach out to the vegetation. Cantilevers, some as long as 42 feet, draw the eye from the house to the desert, from the desert to the house.

Glass walls and large windows dissolve the space between inside and outside, framing high-desert and mountain views, rock and cactus vignettes, and wide panoramas. Clerestories offer glimpses of vistas.

"No matter what space you're in, you have this affinity to nature," says David, an architect and developer, whose design/development/construction company, Optima, built Optima CamelView Village in Scottsdale and Optima Biltmore condos in Phoenix.

The home, called Sterling Ridge, sits on open desert in Desert Mountain, in northeast Scottsdale.
Inside, the 11,800-square-foot space shows off exposed steel beams and a contemporary interior. Yet the space invites you to relax and is comfortable for living, entertaining and even for their dog, Nala.

The home's materials create the connection with nature. The soft terra-cotta color of the 12-inch-thick concrete walls blends with the landscape. The walls, made from sand taken from the property, resemble stone, with variations in shading and texture. The concrete can be light or dark, smooth or rough, with aggregate showing through.

The differences and imperfections only enhance the home, David says.

"I think concrete really fits the desert," he says. "It allows you to do things you can't do with brick or stone," such as long, narrow panoramic windows.

Other organic materials offer texture and contrast, and serve as an interior landscape. Structural steel beams, painted in terra-cotta orange, offer a warm alternative to the coldness of gray steel. Cutout designs in the steel contrast with the material's firmness. Polished brown concrete floors provide an inexpensive yet decorative alternative to marble or stone flooring. Elsewhere, planks of Brazilian walnut line floors and ceilings.

Color is key to the decor, with the artwork, furnishings and materials making confident statements. "I like bold colors," says David, who divides his time between the Valley and Chicago, where his home is made of bright yellow steel.

He learned to love color while taking painting classes in college. At Sterling Ridge, in the entryway, a massive sculpture made by Frank Stella contrasts with the home's angles.

In most homes, the media room feels like an enclosed box, with no windows and a dark decor. Not here. Instead, a collection of nine of Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe prints, all in bright colors, span two walls, adding interest, along with a 28-foot, bright red leather sofa that forms a semicircle in front of the large-screen TV.

A series of 22 pieces, by Joan Miró, lend color and repetition to the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. Floor-to-ceiling Miró paintings offer inspiration in David's office, which is adjacent to the master bedroom. The Hoveys are serious art collectors - pieces by sculptors Donald Judd and Alexander Calder and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein can be found throughout the house.

Stair railings are painted grass green; the risers are teal blue. Outside, bright orange cushions adorn the chaise longues. Orange is David's favorite color.

Nearly every room features furniture made by acclaimed woodworker George Nakashima, who died in 1990. The pieces, including tables and benches, are constructed of wood planks, usually tree trunks that have been cut lengthwise. Eileen's office, which is set into the hillside, features a Nakashima desk.

In this home full of surprises, the master bedroom seems to float above the other rooms. A sliding wall, akin to a Japanese shoji screen, shields the bedroom from the office. A garden terrace, a rooftop structure featuring low-water-use plants and visible from the secondary bedrooms, helps cool the rooms below. The guest quarters feel secluded and special, with an entry a floor above the other rooms.

Outside, a 35-foot-long fire grate crosses the deck and sends up 8-inch flames to warm chilly winter nights spent looking at the stars or desert. In the backyard, a negative-edge pool wraps around.

A series of black boxes - actually solar panels sandwiched between glass plates - shade the deck. Generating 13,000 watts of solar energy, they repeat the building's modular shape. "Most people look at the panels and don't realize they're solar panels," David says. He incorporates solar energy in each project he designs and builds.

The house, completed three years ago, also served as a test site for several design aspects he used at CamelView, he says.

"That's what the desert does to you," he says. "It gets you to try natural materials . . . and inspires you to make your home one with the landscape."
Source AZ Republic

Looking to buy a home in Scottsdale AZ, let RE/MAX Desert SHowcase experienced Realtors show you what is avaialble. Looking to sell your Scottsdale home, let us provide you with a luxury home marketing plan. Visit us at www.buyphoenixazhomes.com

Monday, December 10, 2007

Working With Your RE/MAX Real Estate Agent

Working With Your Phoenix RE/MAX Real Estate Agent

Selecting the right real estate agent to help you buy or sell your home is essential to a smooth transaction. For the best possible experience, you should consider a professional's background, personality and responsiveness.

Here are some tips to help you choose and work with your real estate agent.

How to choose a real estate agent

  1. When it comes to choosing a real estate agent, consumers who do their homework can save thousands of dollars and experience a smooth financial and physical transition. So don't waste time and resources - decide what's most important to you, and then find a professional who specializes in that area. Are you buying or selling a loft? A condo? A rural property? Raw land? An investment property? Perhaps cost is your main concern. Or timing. Whatever you decide, a RE/MAX Associate can help you.
  2. Ask friends and family members for referrals. Someone you know and trust may have a RE/MAX agent in mind to help you meet your real estate goals.
  3. If you've already determined where you'd like to live, drive through neighborhoods in the area and survey them for Realtor yard signs. Seeing the same name pop up on signs time after time may indicate that the agent is a specialist in the area. If you're thinking about selling, monitor the signs in your own neighborhood.
  4. Moving far away? Right here on remax.com, you can begin to meet and greet RE/MAX agents from all around the world who can offer the same great expertise and service. Consider services they offer, additional certifications, any specialties, languages they speak. You'll find the right professional to meet your real estate needs no matter where your home search takes you.
  5. Pay attention to credentials. This will help you determine areas of expertise. You may be interested in these designations: ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist), CRP (Certified Relocation Professional), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist). There are dozens of designations pursued for continuing education, so identify one or more that fit your needs.

What to ask in the interview

  1. If selling, ask the real estate agent how he or she would establish a price. Request a Comparative Market Analysis, also called a CMA, which shows the market value of similar homes in the area that are for sale or have recently sold.
  2. If selling, ask the real estate agent how he or she would market your property. Understand that some agents may prefer to first tour your property and then put together a comprehensive customized marketing plan to present at a later meeting. But if he or she can't suggest a single strategy when asked, you might consider interviewing other candidates..
  3. Ask the real estate agent how often you should expect to hear from him or her. Know how and when you will communicate to avoid unrealistic expectations. Pay attention to office hours and whether you'll be invited to stay in touch via a cell phone or e-mail.
  4. Ask how long the real estate agent has been licensed and how many buyers and sellers he or she has helped. While time is not the most important factor, it may demonstrate experience.
  5. Ask about designations. Interest in continuing education is a strong indicator of motivation and professionalism.
  6. Pay attention to the agent's listening skills. Does he or she cut you off before you've finished a sentence? There's nothing worse than looking at houses you have no interest in because the real estate agent has not listened carefully to your needs, or having your home on the market too long because it's priced incorrectly and the wrong buyers are being targeted.
  7. Ask the real estate agent what his or her fee structure is. Does he or she require a percentage of the sales price or work for a flat fee? Will the agent be paid another way?
  8. If you are unsatisfied with a prospect's plans or personality, thank him or her for taking the time to meet with you and repeat the process with another real estate agent. It can be time-consuming, but it's worthwhile.

    Once you've found the right real estate agent to represent you, hold up your end of the relationship. There are simple things you can do to help your real estate agent get you the best deal.

How to work with your real estate agent

  1. If you are selling, create an information sheet that lists your home's features and best qualities, especially those you know best that others might overlook. Give this to your real estate agent, who may be able to use the information in marketing materials or when talking with potential buyers.
  2. When selling, talk to the real estate agent about cosmetic improvements. Your home may need fresh paint or new carpet. (Make sure you choose neutral colors.)
  3. If selling, keep it clean. Eliminate cobwebs and dust. Keep the bathroom counters and mirrors wiped down. Vacuum and sweep daily during the selling process.
  4. If buying, be clear about what you want. Make a list of your priorities numbered 1 through 10 and give it to your real estate agent. You can always revise the list, but give your real estate agent something concrete so that he or she can research available listings more efficiently.

Food for thought

  1. Office environment can say a lot about a businessperson. Is it clean and organized? Do the office hours make it easily accessible? Are staff members pleasant and helpful?
  2. Your real estate agent is an authority you hire to help you make the right decisions, but you have the final word.
  3. Hiring a Realtor will give you the best advantage. Although many practitioners work part time, RE/MAX Associates are industry professionals who can provide their complete attention and expertise. This gives you an enormous advantage.
  4. Your residence is likely to be the biggest single investment you'll ever make. Buy and sell wisely.
  5. Remember that home values fluctuate with the economy.

Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888

As Your RE/MAX Phoenix AZ Real Estate Agents, We Will:

  • Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria.

  • Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing.

  • Make sure you don't pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.

  • Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.

  • The Powerful RE/MAX Brand Name

  • Robust Online Marketing

  • Global Referral Network

  • Specialty Markets

  • Mortgage Services

  • Home Warranty Protection

  • Home Inspection Services

  • Title/Escrow Services

  • Professional Moving Services

The RE/MAX Desert Showcase Team. Covering all of metro Phoenix

Sunday, November 25, 2007

New Home Builders are going “Green” in the Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria & other AZ Areas

New Home Builders are going “Green” in the Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria and other AZ Areas

APS Performance Built Homes®
Ashton Woods Homes, Shea Homes, & Columbia Communities qualify for the APS Performance Built Homes Program in AZ.

Arizona Public Service (APS) has established a regional energy efficient program that works with builders, sales agents and consumers to encourage the construction and purchase of energy efficient homes. The cost to heat and cool an APS Performance Built home is guaranteed by the builder or a third party or company such as Environments for Living® not to exceed a guaranteed annual amount. If the heating and cooling costs do go over the guaranteed amount, the guarantor will refund 100% of the exceeded costs. Properly installed insulation, low-e windows, and more efficient mechanical systems are characteristics of an APS Performance Built Homes®. Additionally, APS sponsors training programs for builders and sales agents. A new home buyer who buys an APS Performance Built Homes® may qualify for energy efficiency financing. Homes are randomly inspected to ensure they meet the high energy efficiency standards of the APS Performance Built program.

Energy Star for Homes Program™ Elite Communities, Beazer Homes, Centex Homes, Pulte Homes, Hacienda Builder, D. R. Horton, Trend Homes, Weinstein Communities, Classic Communities, KB Home, Keystone Homes, Concordia Homes in the outlying areas of Phoenix & Maricopa County, AZ.

Energy Star® is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program developed to help businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Energy Star® homes must be at least 30% more energy efficient than homes built to the 1993 national Model Energy Code or 15% more efficient than state energy code, whichever is more rigorous. The EPA Energy Star for Homes Program™ is part of a family of Energy Star® programs designed to prevent pollution while saving consumers money and offering businesses a significant competitive advantage. For new home buyers, the most significant advantage is reduced heating and cooling costs. Additionally, the purchase of a home that carries the Energy Star® label may mean the buyer will qualify for energy efficient financing options.

Energy Star® Certified Homes must pass four tests for energy efficiency. In some case all of the homes are tested, and in other situations a predefined percentage of each plan built is physically tested. The first is a design test to determine the energy efficiency of the planned design of the house. The other three are physical tests to determine if the house, as it is built, meets the design specifications that relate to energy efficiency. The first of these three phase tests is called the Duct Blaster Test. Once the heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) duct work has been installed, it is pressurized and checked for leaks by a third party verification service. The second test is to verify that the wall insulation is installed in a manner to ensure its planned performance. The final test is a House Envelope Test which measures the air leakage of the completed house.

All of these tests are performed by an independent third party tester who is certified by the EPA. For the Energy Star® logo to be displayed on builder advertising, the home with which it is associated must meet all Energy Star® certification requirements. Because of the requirements, you can be assured that an Energy Star® certified house will be an energy-efficient home.

Another segment of the Energy Star® family is Building America which teams up the knowledge and expertise of architects, engineers, builders, equipment manufacturers, materials suppliers, community planners, mortgage lenders and contractor trades and conducts systems engineering research that leads to the construction of more energy efficient homes. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Building America is a private/public partnership that conducts research to find energy-efficient solutions for new and existing housing which can be implemented on a production basis. Homes are produced on a community scale that reduce energy usage by 40% to 70%, while improving builder productivity and reducing construction time and waste. Building America has established a certification for building green homes.

Environments for Living®
Builders that participate include Beazer Homes, Pulte Homes, Del Web Corporation, Talas Homes, Ashton Woods Homes, Homes by Towne, Shea Homes in Arizona.


An Environments for Living® home has an even more comprehensive approach to energy efficiency than does Energy Star™. All Environments for Living® homes must meet the Energy Star for Homes™ standards. Participating builders in the Environments for Living® program are given additional assistance in acquiring Energy Star® qualification and labeling. From design to construction and all the way through a third party inspection, these homes must meet specific construction standards for durability and safety. As with many of the other programs, new home buyers may be able to qualify for Energy Efficiency Mortgages that are offered by many lenders and include advantages to buyers such as lower interest rates, higher qualifying ratios and cash back at closing.

Scottsdale, AZ Green Building Program
Builders that participate in the Scottsdale Green Building Program are Starpointe Properties, Monterey Homes & Camelot Homes.

This program is a whole-systems program from design through final certification inspection that goes beyond the mechanical systems standards of the other programs. The program incorporates site use, regionally-derived building products, recycled content of building materials, water and waste systems. Builders who participate in the Scottsdale Green Building Program are provided educational opportunities and at least two tiers of certification. The advantages to home buyers are similar to the other programs: reduced energy usage, attractive financing options and a more comfortable living environment.

SRP-Certified Homes
SRP-Certified Homes in the Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria & outlying areas are Beazer Homes, Classic Communities, K Hovnanian Homes, Magee Homes, New Sun Homes, Courtland Homes, Woodside Homes of AZ, Randall Martin Home, Farnsworth Development, Earlie Homes, Allegiance Homes, Orleans Homes, Blandford Homes.


SRP offers an energy efficient home program called SRP-Certified Homes. The program focuses on lowering homeowner energy bills through the use of home construction materials and appliances that reduce energy consumption on a kilowatt-hour per square foot basis. Builders have the flexibility to substitute one energy-efficient feature for another if the overall design complies with the SRP-Certified Home requirements. Prospective buyers can review estimated energy costs prepared by SRP for the specific floor plan they choose before buying the house. These estimates are very useful to home buyers since the figures are based on current SRP price plans and local weather and groundwater temperature data, as opposed to national averages.

If you are considering purchasing a new home or would like more information, please contact RE/MAX Desert Showcase at 623-979-8888. Don’t go unrepresented for the single purchase you will make in your life—the builder pays the commission and it will NOT impact your sales price.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Scottsdale - 85262 Housing Market

Scottsdale - 85262 Housing Market


This upscale north Scottsdale ZIP code posted the third-biggest increase in the Valley. The area is second only to Paradise Valley for metropolitan Phoenix's priciest homes.

The increase: The ZIP posted a 13 percent increase in median home prices this year. Most of the price increase came from existing home sales in golf communities such as DC Ranch. And while prices climbed here, Paradise Valley experienced a 5.6 percent drop.

Median price: The jump pushed the median home price above $1 million for the first time.

The ZIP code, north of Bell Road next to the McDowell Mountains, had fewer than 50 new homes go up. The Loop 101 has helped this neighborhood as well as the rest of north Scottsdale grow.

Communities in this Scottsdale AZ ZIP code draw second-home buyers as well as Valley executives. Several big firms have moved their corporate headquarters to the Scottsdale Airpark during the past few years.

Windgate Ranch Scottsdale AZ

Windgate Ranch Decking out 6 Model Homes in Holiday Decor


SCOTTSDALE - Holiday decorators, busy these days pulling out old boxes of Christmas lights and dusting off the front-door Christmas wreaths, can get some great ideas and maybe a few new decorations this month at the Windgate Ranch community.

At the new community, 10190 E. Windgate Ranch Road, near Bell Road and Thompson Peak Parkway, six Toll Brothers model homes will be decked out with holiday themes.

Interior designers have created a theme for each home.

The Solaria's theme is "Glamorous Gala," showcasing a cocktail party complete with crystal ornaments, white lights and chiffon ribbons.

"The Homecoming" is the theme in the Torre model home, with family heirlooms and keepsakes displayed throughout.

Other themes include the "Silver Star" in the Mercado and "Casa de Elegancia," featuring a 5-foot Douglas fir wreath, in the Vaquero.

The homes will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 16.
Est Est of Scottsdale, Parisi Portfolio of San Diego and Creative Design Consultants of Orange County created the holiday décor.

The holiday decorations will also be put to another good cause during a live auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, Gabriel's Angels and Toys for Tots. Visitors may place bids for the decorations until Dec. 16.

Source: Beth Litwin The Arizona Republic

About Windgate Ranch Scottsdale AZ

The homes within the guard gated community at Windgate Ranch Scottsdale boast several varieties of luxurious semi-custom house plans. Elegant single family one- and two-story home designs are available at Windgate Ranch.

Our semi-custom homes range from approximately 2,700 to over 6,300 square feet of living space and offer views of the scenic desert and distant mountain vistas. When you purchase a home in Windgate Ranch, you will enjoy the use of our Community Center, fitness center, sparkling pool, and walking trails throughout the community.

Toll Brothers brings you the best of everything - prestigious locations, unparalleled amenities, spectacular architecture, and the expertise of the nation’s premier builder of luxury homes. All our homes offer a combination of quality materials and superior design, where every detail is meticulously crafted, and every enhancement is seamlessly added to create a home that is uniquely yours.

Windgate Ranch Scottsdale is an excellent example of the superior quality planned communities that Toll Brothers has established across the country. When you choose Toll Brothers, you enjoy all the special advantages offered by the nation's leading builder of luxury homes!

Scottsdale, one of the country’s most popular resort destinations, has a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. Entertainment venues include The Scottsdale Center for the Arts which is the focal point of Scottsdale Civic Center Mall just 20 minutes from Windgate Ranch. The center hosts nearly 1,000 performances, events and art exhibits annually. An intimate, charming adobe recital hall, a community theater, a symphony orchestra and a jazz society all add to the city’s cultural scene.

Scottsdale offers cultural adventures of many varieties, including Native American Pow-wows, the world’s largest classic car auction, Arabian horse shows, golf and tennis tournaments, spring training baseball games, art festivals and culinary celebrations, with over 200 public and private golf courses in the greater Phoenix area, you will never run out of choices!

Scottsdale is home to many public championship golf courses, including Talon & Raptor at the Grayhawk Golf Club. Both are listed on Golf Magazine’s Top 10 places to play and are just 5 minutes away. The Tournament PlayersPlayers Club, home of the FBR Open, and the 2 courses at Troon North, Monument and Pinnacle, all offer challenging, prestigious options.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy over 40 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails that wind throughout the nearby McDowell Mountain Regional Park, less than 5 minutes away. Sports fans can enjoy the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the National League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks, and the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes at local sports venues all less than an hour from your new home.

Contact RE/MAX Desert Showcase about how you can purchase one of these beautiful Windgate Ranch homes in Scottsdale Az