​​All About Scottsdale Real Estate 

Thoroughly modern Scottsdale, Arizona, is a nationally top-ranked city to live, work, and play because of its unparalleled mix of outdoor adventure, high-end shopping, world-class golfing resorting, and lively nightlife. The blend of desert beauty and urban sophistication is hard to find elsewhere. It’s for these reasons that the Scottsdale real estate market is flourishing.

Before buying a home in Scottsdale, know the market dynamics. Our EZ Search real estate profile contains some city background, breaks down its cost of living, real estate pricing, and a short sample of the things to do once you’ve moved in.

About Scottsdale, AZ

One of the Sonoran Desert cities, Scottsdale likes to call itself the “West’s Most Western Town.” That comes from farming town roots in the far-flung west, but the orchards and farmlands are gone today. Instead, this suburb north and east of Phoenix is an urban recreation, commerce, and education center.

Scottsdale has frequently won accolades in recent years, coming in the top ten in the nation as a place to live, to retire, for recreation, and the top 15 for work-life balance. 

It starts with the city’s climate and location. Over 300 days of sunshine a year, a 30,500-acre nature preserve, and numerous golf and wellness resorts make the city a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Geographically, Scottsdale starts at the foot of the picturesque McDowell Mountains and runs up the Tonto National Forest borders. Find hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing in the desert, followed by a round of golf at one of its world-class courses. 

But you can’t play all the time. To round out why it’s so desirable, Scottsdale has a thriving economy that supports a work-from-home lifestyle. City residents have one of the highest median household incomes in the state. Add to that an excellent educational system that includes nationally ranked public schools and robust city infrastructure, and it’s no wonder Scottsdale is popular with families, young professionals, and retirees. 

What county is Scottsdale, AZ, in?

Over 4.4 million people call Maricopa County home. It is one of the nation’s largest by land size and population, covering 9,224 square miles. It borders Pinal County to the east, Yavapai County to the north, and Gila County to the south. 

Large swaths of the greater Phoenix metro (including Scottsdale) are inside the borders. People buy a home in Maricopa County because the combination of urban amenities, dry climate, and desert beauty create a unique and high-quality living experience.

Is Scottsdale, AZ growing?

This matters because the more people migrate into an area, the more it stresses the cost of living and the housing market–especially in dense, urbanized cities with little room to grow or infill.

We see this in Scottsdale, where population growth has been incremental over the recent US Census counts. The 2022 estimated population of 243,050 is only 0.7% more than 2020. 

Scottsdale boomed from 1990-2000, adding over 70,000 new residents, but that growth trend started to slow from 2000-2010 to 15,000 new residents, followed by 26,000 from 2010-2020. It’s simply running out of space to build housing and infrastructure to accommodate new residents.

Today, it’s the fifth largest city in Arizona and 85th largest in the nation by population size, with a per square mile density of 1,300 people. The median age for a Scottsdale resident was 47 in 2017 when the US median was 38. 

Cost of living in Scottsdale

Life here comes with a higher price tag compared to the national average. In fact, the overall cost of living in this resort city is approximately 42% more expensive than the national average and 36% more expensive than the state average. 

This elevated figure is primarily due to the housing costs, which were a whopping 130% above the national median in 2022. Scottsdale real estate prices tend to be higher due to the city’s desirability and the high quality of life it offers.

But it’s not the only category where budgets need more. Essentially, every expenditure runs above the national average except for healthcare. Take a look at how Scottsdale stacks up in the Phoenix metro.

Considering Scottsdale’s general quality of life, many residents find this extra living costs well worth it. And with around 40% of households reporting a median income over $100,000, Scottsdale is one of the wealthier Phoenix suburbs.

Home prices in Scottsdale, AZ

The Scottsdale real estate market features everything from cozy, southwestern-style homes to sprawling luxury estates in master-planned communities packed with amenities. Given the population boom in the 1990s, the median age of a Scottsdale home was 33 years, but you can still find new construction homes, mostly in Far North Scottsdale. 

Market data from July 2023 reflects Scottsdale’s desirability as a place to live. The median sold price of $795,000 was actually down 0.63% year-over-year. Meanwhile, the median list price was $975,000, an 8.5% YOY bump.

Homes here trend above the median selling prices for Phoenix and Maricopa County, making it one of the more expensive housing markets in the greater Phoenix metro. However, its market prices have been relatively stable since fall 2022, after they peaked in the summer of 2022.

As of this report, Scottsdale remained a seller’s market with 3.2 months of inventory. The sales pace was slowing, with a median time to contract at 76 days. The available inventory, both with current active listings and new listings coming on the market, was down month over month by 14% and 17%, respectively. There is a 7% reduction in available homes from the prior year. 

Are there any condos or townhomes available in Scottsdale, AZ? 

Of the over 2,000 listings available in August 2023, around 650 were classified as townhomes and condos. 

The townhomes and condos on the Scottsdale real estate market included amenities like private, gated communities, resort-style living, and stunning desert views. Their prices ranged from $127,000 for a one-bedroom studio to a new construction penthouse condo for $8.34 million in a resort golf community.

As of July 2023, new listings were down 38%, and the condo market had a 2.7-month supply of inventory. Year-to-date, the median sale prices were down 1.9%.

Areas in Scottsdale to look for condos or townhomes include, but are not limited to: 

• Silverleaf
• Downtown 
• Ascent 
• DC Ranch
• Grayhawk
• Scottsdale Ranch
• Villa Monterey

Are there any waterfront properties found in Scottsdale, AZ?

Naturally, being in a desert, waterfront living is somewhat limited. But the Phoenix metro does have reservoirs and a few rivers. One of these is Lake Serena in Scottsdale Ranch. These are coveted properties with prices starting at $970,000 in August 2023.

Another is Lake Marguerite, which has condo properties in the gated Palm Cove neighborhood. McCormick Ranch has some smaller lakes; some properties have golf courses and waterfront views. These tell you that if you want waterfront living in Scottsdale, it is possible but expected higher home prices.

Top neighborhoods in Scottsdale, AZ

Sprawling Scottsdale has dozens of neighborhoods, from the amenity-rich master-planned to the organically grown Old Town. Some of the most popular include: 

Old Town Scottsdale is a dynamic, pedestrian-friendly urban core and one of the most well-known sections of the city. People come for festivals, shopping, and dining. As a place to buy a home, most are on the older side for the city, but there are upscale condominiums with stunning Camelback Mountain views. And residents gain this easy accessibility to downtown Scottsdale.

McCormick Ranch in central Scottsdale is a master-planned golf club community packed with amenities across its multiple HOA-monitored neighborhoods. It has two 18-hole championship courses, five community parks, pedestrian paths, tennis courts, and lakes. Multiple shopping centers provide easy access to groceries, restaurants, and the daily essentials.

Scottsdale Ranch, another central Scottsdale community, breaks down into 39 sub-neighborhoods with HOAs that run events like block parties and social clubs. Its perks include two parks, a senior center, and shopping complexes with grocers and pharmacies. A tennis center runs sports leagues and lessons for all ages.

North Scottsdale includes the communities of Grayhawk and DC Ranch. These are some of the most exclusive enclaves in Scottsdale, with high-end homes that often have sweeping McDowell mountain views or prime access to the Sonoran Preserve. Resident amenities include championship golf courses, country clubs, equestrian centers, and the Scottsdale Quarter outdoor mall. 

South Scottsdale is a crossroads part of town, between Tempe and Old Town. As an older section of the city, it’s got character mixed with convenience and affordability. It has a reputation for having excellent local and low-key restaurants. In terms of Scottsdale real estate, the area has a collection of bungalow and ranch-style homes at a lower price tag than homes in the north.

Golf course living in Scottsdale, AZ

With over 50 golf courses inside Scottsdale and another 200 in the Valley of the Sun, Scottsdale definitely has golf course living in spades if that’s what you want. A few options:

Ancala surrounds a private country club with a Pete Dye, Jr-designed course. It’s in east Scottsdale on the southern McDowell Mountains. The elevated homes have beautiful valley views. Besides the golf course, its other amenities include tennis courts, resort-style swimming pools, and a fitness center. Ancala is gated and has some villas and sprawling single-family homes.

DC Ranch is a sprawling master-planned community with a championship 18-hole course. Some upscale single-family homes are located on golf course lots. Residents here have access to 47 parks connected through walking paths, plus health and fitness centers, swimming pools, and tennis. For families, the neighborhood has a K-8 school inside its borders and two community centers. 

Estancia is a master-planned golf course community in the northern part of Scottsdale. It’s a private gated neighborhood with just 223 homes on 1-3 acre lots plus 39 villas. Its resort-style amenities include hiking trails, two swimming pools, and a basketball court. The Tom Fazio-designed golf club is members only.

Grayhawk is in north Scottsdale, and it is unique in that it has two public courses, Talon and Raptor. Both are renowned for their challenging play and stunning mountain views. As part of the community, there’s an Olympic-sized pool with cabanas, a spa, and sports facilities like tennis courts. Homes here range from condos to starter-size homes to gated luxurious single-family home neighborhoods. Grayhawk has an elementary school. 

Besides these four, find an additional ten golf course communities available on the Scottsdale real estate market.

What is the property tax rate for Scottsdale, AZ?

As of the 2022-2023 taxing year, the City of Scottsdale had a primary property tax rate of $0.4970 per $100 of property valuation. The secondary tax rate was $0.4101 per $100. Combined, that was $0.9071. 

But, in 2023, the city proposed a tax increase to $0.515 for the primary tax rate and $0.4664 for the secondary tax rate.

What areas are near Scottsdale, AZ?

Scottsdale is part of Phoenix’s metropolitan area, surrounded by the cities of Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Glendale. It’s also beside the renowned resorts of Paradise Valley, like The Phoenician and The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa. 

Heading north will take you to the scenic towns of Cave Creek and Carefree, where Old West meets modern luxury. To the northwest is Peoria, a suburban area known for its outlet mall and baseball Spring Training stadiums. 

West of Scottsdale is Phoenix, the state capital. Its bustling downtown is another urban center with shops, galleries, spas, and restaurants. Further west is Avondale, a small city surrounded by agricultural farms; it’s one of the fastest-growing areas in Arizona. 

For outdoor recreation, Scottsdale is near spots like Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Tonto National Forest, and South Mountain Preserve and Park. Both have campgrounds, boat rentals, and stocked fishing. 

Searching Scottsdale real estate

Overall, Scottsdale is a convenient home base in the Sonoran Desert for either living life or exploring the greater outdoors. You won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a thriving new hometown. Let a local real estate agent help you look for the right neighborhood to buy a home in Scottsdale.