Phoenix & Scottsdale Real Estate
Knowing the Scottsdale real estate market, and which way it is heading, will determine the negotiating strategies to use. SUBSCRIBE to our monthly Market Trends Report and stay on top of the local real estate market. It's free! The Scottsdale real estate report also covers the cities of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Chandler, Mesa and Tempe.
Whether you are a first time homebuyer or a seasoned veteran I have all the resources you need to buy real estate in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Chandler, Mesa and Tempe.
What's for Sale in the Scottsdale Area?
If you are ready to buy and want to see homes for sale in Scottsdale that fit your criteria e-mailed to you daily, we can do that. If you're just window shopping and want to view what's for sale, that's available also.
Local Scottsdale Schools
Scottsdale residents know the value of a good education. How do local Scottsdale schools compare? We have scores and more. And remember, we also have the homes for sale to go with the Scottsdale schools.
A Little About Scottsdale
Located in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Scottsdale, Arizona, is an upscale city that is a favorite among tourists. The city is adjacent to Phoenix and had a population of nearly 245,000 in 2009, up from just over 200,000 in 2000. Scottsdale lies in the Salt River Valley, also called the Valley of the Sun in the northern parts of the Sonoran Desert. East of the city is the McDowell Mountain Range.
Before it was settled by Europeans, Scottsdale was home to the native Pima, many of whom remained in the city into the 20th century in their original homes but who have now moved to new houses or other town. An army chaplain bought more than 600 acres where the city is now located, and his brother, George Washington Scott, was the first resident of the town, originally called Orangedale but changed to Scottsdale in 1894. The city was incorporated in 1951. Today, many Scottsdale residents are quite wealthy. In 2007, the median annual household income in the city was more than $70,500. Scottsdale real estate also has high prices, with the estimated median value for Scottsdale homes in 2008 $462,900. Shopping areas include the upscale Kierland Commons in North Scottsdale, and the massive Scottsdale Fashion Square downtown.
Tourism buoys Scottsdale's economy, employing nearly 40% of the city's residents. In 2005, more than 7.5 million people visited the city, whether to see its golf courses, spas or to attend events or conferences here. Scottsdale ha the highest number of destination spas per capita of any city in the U.S. One of the three major Mayo Clinic branches is here as well, which brings patients from across the country. The city hosts the annual Scottsdale Arts Festival, the Scottsdale International Film Festival, April's month-long Scottsdale Culinary Festival, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, the month-long Scottsdale Jaycees Parada del Sol, the Ultimate Block Party on New Year's Eve and the famed Barrett-Jackson Auto Show. Scottsdale also has an active art community, with more than 125 professional art galleries and studios. Scottsdale was also home to the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his winter home, still here, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state. The Scottsdale Civic Center Mall is home to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, the Scottsdale Historical Museum and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
Most children living in the city will attend schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District, though some on the outer edges of town are zoned to schools in the Phoenix area. There are five major high schools in Scottsdale: Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado, Desert Mountain and Saguaro high schools. Scottsdale is also home of the International School of Arizona, with classes taught in foreign languages, as well as several other private schools. The nearest college is Scottsdale Community College, which is within the boundaries of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Reservation. The main campus of Arizona State University is nearby in Tempe, and many who live here commute there easily. From transportation throughout the Phoenix area, Valley Metro buses operate frequently throughout the area. Scottsdale itself operates a local network called Scottsdale Trolleys.
