Second homes: Rain, rain stays away almost every day in Scottsdale, Ariz.
— -- Scottsdale has a lot to offer the second-home owner, but much of the appeal can be summed up in one word: sunshine. That is the forecast for as many as 330 days each year, coupled with famously low humidity — which, combined with easy air access, attracts buyers from all over the country. "Everyone is escaping winter somewhere," notes real estate agent Terry Ray, owner of the Ray Group.
The natural beauty of the mountainous Sonoran desert offers a wealth of outdoor activities. Biking, hiking and especially golf are very popular here. Less strenuous activities include a vast array of spas, abundant shopping and dining, and a high concentration of cultural activities, art galleries and an extensive charity event circuit.
The city flaunts its resort lifestyle to the extent that "if you see someone wearing a tie in Scottsdale, you know they're an attorney," says Ray. One local restaurant, the Pinnacle Peak Patio, famously cuts off guests' ties and nails them to the ceiling.
Along with Tempe to the south, Scottsdale is part of Phoenix's sprawling East Valley, famed for its ample golf offerings (there are more than 50 courses in Scottsdale proper). While Phoenix has many older golf courses planted with wall-to-wall grass, Scottsdale is known as the birthplace of dramatic "desert golf," incorporating cactuses, ravines, rock and elevation changes of more than 2,000 feet.
Because there are so many communities aimed at second-home buyers, and due to the current market conditions, some local developers are offering dramatic incentives. For example, Encanterra, a golf community east of Scottsdale, is offering rebates, such as $155,000 off of a $483,000 new home. Property taxes in the area are also low.
More urban South Scottsdale attracts the non-golfers. This includes the pedestrian-friendly Old Town, filled with art galleries and shops emphasizing Southwestern culture. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of condos here for buyers more concerned with nightlife, arts and dining than living on a course. North of Scottsdale, much of the land is protected wilderness.
A look at three Scottsdale neighborhoods:
• North Scottsdale: The last part of the city to be developed, it is home to the most upscale golf communities. Troon North, an 1,800-acre development, has a Four Seasons resort hotel with two public courses, including the highest-ranked one in Arizona. Because there is no golf membership for owners, condos range from $395,000 and homes from the high $400,000s (www.troonnorth.net). Whisper Rock and Mirabel are two private, members-only golf communities, both featuring single-family homes on large lots. Whisper Rock has two courses and a mix of custom homes ($2 million to $5 million) and pre-designed villas in the low $2 millions (whisperrock.us). Mirabel has a highly regarded Tom Fazio course, villas starting around $1 million and custom homes from $1.8 million to $6 million (mirabel.com).
• Downtown/South Scottsdale: "Second homes downtown are a new phenomenon," says broker Terry Ray. "There are 10-plus-story high-rises with luxury services and concierges, while a greatly increased number of stores and restaurants (around Old Town) has made it much more livable." Newly finished condo projects include Third Avenue Lofts (thirdavenuelofts.com) and The Mark (livethemark.com).
• East of Scottsdale: The lowest second-home prices are found in golf communities just east of Scottsdale, including Gilbert, Ocotillo, Queen Creek, Mesa and Fountain Hills. Here you can find three- and four-bedroom homes well under $100,000. Even the higher-end gated communities are less pricey, such as Encanterra, where homes around the Tom Lehman course begin at $250,000 (encanterra.com).