Scottsdale Real Estate

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Scottsdale was originally inhabited by Hohokam.

From circa 300 BC to 1400 AD, these ancient civilizations farmed the area and built some of the most ingenious irrigation canals the world has ever known. The name Hohokam translates as "vanished," as the civilizations mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

Before Anglo settlement, Scottsdale was a Pima village and some Pima remained in their original homes well into the 20th century. For example, until the late 1960s, there was a still-occupied traditional dwelling on the southeast corner of Indian Bend Rd. and Scottsdale Rd. By now, however, all Pima have either moved into modern homes within Scottsdale, to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, or elsewhere.

The Hohokam's truly unbelievable legacy was in their creation of more than 125 miles (200 km) of canals to provide water for their agricultural needs. The remnants of this ancient irrigation system were adapted and improved upon in 1868 by the first Anglo company to stake a claim in the Valley of the Sun, when Jack Swilling set up the Swilling Irrigation Canal Company.

Twenty years later Scottsdale's future would turn sharply upwards, when a U.S. Army Chaplain, Winfield Scott, paid the paltry sum of $2.50 an acre for a 640 acre stretch of real estate where the city is now located. Winfield's brother, George Washington Scott, was the first resident of the town that was then known as Orangedale and later changed to Scottsdale in 1894.

In 1937, internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright set up his "winter camp" at the foot of the McDowell Mountains, creating what is now known as Taliesin West. Scottsdale, and the rest of Phoenix, have seen an everlasting influence from Frank Lloyd Wright. Many buildings throughout the region were designed by the famous architect. Today, a Frank Lloyd Wright memorial stands in North Scottsdale and a major street bears his name.

In 1951 the Town of Scottsdale was officially incorporated with a population of 2000.

Since then it has grown to a 2004 Census estimate of 221,792. It is now Arizona's fifth-largest city, and one of its most celebrated. Scottsdale is commonly defined by its high quality of life, and in 1993 was named the, "Most Livable City," in the United States by the United States Conference of Mayors.

Scottsdale is continually ranked as one of the premier golf and resort destinations in the world, with a sizable portion of tax revenue being derived from tourism. It is also home to the FBR Open Golf Tournament held at the Tournament Players Club, which carries the distinction of the best-attended event on the PGA Tour. In 2006, Scottsdale will begin hosting a second PGA Tour event, known as the Fry's Electronics Open. Development of Scottsdale real estate continues with most of the growth occuring mainly in the northern areas of the city.

The city is loosely divided into four areas: South Scottsdale (McKellips Road north to Shea Boulevard), Old Town (Downtown) Scottsdale, Central Scottsdale (also known as the, "Shea Corridor"; extends from Chaparral Road north to Shea Boulevard), and North Scottsdale.

Some areas of Scottsdale real estate is among the most expensive in the United States.

In 2005, both Scottsdale and Paradise Valley were among the top ten markets in the nation for luxury home sales, and the only two cities outside of California. Paradise Valley was ranked ninth with $637 million in luxury home sales, while Scottsdale was ranked tenth with $594 million in luxury home sales.

North Scottsdale is currently the most actively developed area of Scottsdale, and is one of the most expansive and expensive areas in Scottsdale. The city's borders rapidly expand to the east and west in this area, containing the McDowell Mountain range. Homes in North Scottsdale see median values of $667,450.

South Scottsdale real estate has been known for many years as more affordable than the northern region.  Today it is transforming into a dynamic urban area. It contains the major nightlife for the area and is a major art center of metro Phoenix. The median resale home price is $291,500, compared to $667,450 in North Scottsdale. South Scottsdale will also soon be home to a new research center for Arizona State University.

Old Town Scottsdale is an area with many streets, stores, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and western art galleries evoking the old cowboy era. New real estate development is taking place in the area.

The Scottsdale Waterfront Residences will soon anchor the once desolate Arizona Canal banks, and no less than five new ultra-luxury condominium towers have been approved. There are also several hotels in the area, including The Mondrian Scottsdale (formerly The James Hotel), the Hotel Indigo, and the Hotel Valley Ho. Two new hotels are also planned to open in Scottsdale's prime nightclub district, the W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences and the Ritz Carlton Paradise Valley. Scottsdale's main cultural district is also in this area, which includes the high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, one of the twenty largest malls in the United States, and the newly constructed Shops at the Waterfront, both of which offer eclectic variety for shoppers and diners.

The Shea Corridor, so named because it a region of north-central Scottsdale in close proximity to the east-west running Shea Boulevard, and is primarily a residential section of town, with suburban-style businesses and shops. Real estate in the Shea Corridor (Central Scottsdale) has increased during the 1990s, and overall, the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale real estate market has seen the largest gain in home prices in the nation, with a 38.4% increase in value.

The tourism industry is Scottsdale's primary employer, accounting for 39% of the city's workforce.

In 2005, 7.5 million visitors stayed in the city, providing an economic impact of $3.1 billion. The city is home to more than 70 resorts and hotels, with four of them listed as AAA Five-Diamond hotels in 2005 (The Phoenician, Scottsdale Camelback Inn, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, and the Fairmont Princess Resort and Spa).

Scottsdale also boasts the highest number of resort spas per capita of any city in the U.S, earning the city a national recognition as an ideal destination for relaxation. The city's year-round warm weather is a great factor in its appeal, as many tourists from the midwest (known locally as "snowbirds") flood the community during the winter season, and many also purchase second homes in the area.

Several popular restaurant chains are also headquartered in Scottsdale, including Cold Stone Creamery, Peter Piper Pizza, Kona Grill, and P.F. Chang's China Bistro. Movie theater chain Harkins Theatres is also based in Scottsdale.

Scottsdale is also home to many businesses with a national - and international - scope.

Motorola Research and Development and Medical Operations, General Dynamics C4 Systems, Taser International, and internet company Go Daddy are all located in Scottsdale. Mayo Clinic also has one of its three major locations in Scottsdale, as well as a hospital.

The aviation industry has also grown in Scottsdale, with the Scottsdale Airport, which opened in the 1960s. By 2004, the airpark area around the airport employed nearly 50,000 people, and housed 2,200 businesses with a combined economic impact of $3 billion annually.

Other companies based in Scottsdale include Allied Waste Industries, The Dial Corporation, Discount Tire Company, and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

Museums and art galleries are synonymous with Scottsdale.

Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school from 1937 until 1959, is a popular tourist attraction. Wright also designed the Gammage Auditorium in nearby Tempe.

Scottsdale is home to more than 125 art galleries. The city has quickly become a center for art in the United States. Its galleries are most famous for western and Native American themed art. The Scottsdale Gallery Association sponsors a weekly Art Walk on Thursday evenings, featuring many prominent artists.

Located in Old Town is Scottsdale's performing arts district. The Scottsdale Center for the Arts hosts musicals and plays, with several open-ended performances including the nationwide Menopause: The Musical and Arizona's longest running show, The Late Night Catechism.

Also in this district since 1971 is the Scottsdale Arts Festival. Held every March, the Festival draws more than 40,000 visitors over a three-day weekend. It is Scottsdale's oldest arts festival, with proceeds supporting the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' arts education and community outreach programs. The Festival includes arts and fine crafts for sale, as well as presentations, performances and demonstrations.

Shopping & nightlife is a major pastime in Scottsdale.

Scottsdale is one of the premiere shopping destinations of the southwest, home to many upscale and high-end boutiques and shops, with many stores such as Tiffany's reporting their Scottsdale location as one of the highest sales per square foot in the nation. There are more than 15 shopping centers, including the more upscale Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Fashion Square.

Scottsdale continues to expand its plethora of shopping destinations with both the Scottsdale Waterfront and the northern Scottsdale Palisene.

Scottsdale is also home to a wide variety of nightclubs and bars. Along with nearby Phoenix and Tempe, the Phoenix Metro Area is one of the most happening places in the entire southwest. The clubs in Scottsdale cater to a wide variety of patrons, some catering to the younger college crowd from nearby Scottsdale Community College and Arizona State University, while more upscale establishments are geared towards the 30 to 40+ crowds.

Sports and recreation.

There are no major league professional team sports in Scottsdale. Many residents follow the teams in nearby Phoenix and Glendale. The city is the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants, who practice at Scottsdale Stadium. Scottsdale Stadium also hosts the Scottsdale Scorpions, a minor league baseball team in the Arizona Fall League.

Scottsdale is widely known as a premiere destination in the United States for golf. The FBR Open Golf Tournament is held annually each spring at the Tournament Players Club, and the city is home to more than 200 area courses offering layouts that range from the rolling green fairways of traditional courses to desert golf designs. In 2006, the Robb Report cited Scottsdale as, "America's Best Place to Live for Golf." The The Boulders Resort & Golden Spa and Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North were selected in 2005 as the second and fourth best golf resorts in the nation by Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine. Other notable golf courses in the area include Desert Mountain, Troon North, Grayhawk, and Desert Highlands.
 

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Geoff Green

Keller Williams Realty East Valley

(480) 882-0968