Questions about Cave CreeK? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: relocating, estate, gated)

[ajgranda]

Hi,

Well, we are still looking into relocating into N Scottsdale are. We are coming down in May. However the more I look at the listings the realtor is sending us, the more I'm getting turned off with what you get for your money. We are currently living in a very nice Colonial in NY and want to downsize without skimping on materials. We are talking thick granite counters in kitchen, nicely tiled backsplash, cherry/maple cabinets, SS high-end appliances (Boush, Thermador, Viking, Jen-air, GE Monogram), oversized tiled floors throughout most of the house, double sink M baths with granite counters, sep shower/bath also tiled/glassed, oversized Master Bedroom, nice peb-tech pool. The prices they are asking in N Scottsdale's high end subdivisions are pretty damn high when you factor all this in, between 900k-1mil for a house just under 3,000 sq ft 3 bed plus den, 3 bath and a lot usually smaller than 10,000sq ft.

So, Im starting to wonder if Cave Creek may be a better choice. I am retired and won't be going back to work. My wife is planning on taking a year off from work (we are raising a 1 yr old) and then looking for work in downtown Scottsdale. She is a financial executive. We want a family oriented community because of our young daughter.

I know that prices are less in Cave Creek, but how much less. Are we talking 10-15% less or so for a nice gated community? Is Cave Creek up and coming? I would still like to make a good investment. I know N Scottsdale no longer is.

So the question is, how far of a commute during rush hour is it from Cave Creek to downtown Scottsdale/business district? How about Pheonix business district if work can't be found in Scottsdale?

Also, where do most people do there shopping for for food, clothes, electronics, furniture, etc?

How about good restaurants?

Medical facilities?

Thanks

[sablebaby]

I'm looking on the MLS and it seems that for a 3000 sf home the prices are $560k to $1 mil.

[gigi927]

AJ,

Have your realtor look at the farther north parts of Scottsdale than you are looking at to get what you are looking for in terms of size of house and interior upgrades for that $. You need to go farther north of DC Ranch. Have her send you listings in the following communities:

Los Alisos (my old neighborhood) - you should be able to get a 3500 square foot house highly upgraded likely with mtn views with pool on a 10-15,000 sf lot in the mid 800s.
Legend Trail
Carriage Trails
Monterra
Bellasera
Bent Tree Estates
La Buena Vida Estates
Cresta Norte (far out, but you can get 3/4 to an acre, 3300 sf for under $1M, so much more land, gated community


something may turn up in one of those.

As far as Cave Creek, I suggest looking at the following specific communities.
Colina Del Norte (gated)
Gray Wolf (may be too expensive)
Emerald Greens subdivision in Dove Valley Ranch
Chapparal at Lone Mountain
Tatum Ranch - look in the subsections built by TW Lewis, another called Sonoran Vista which is gated (built by Diamond Star)
Desert Ridge - Aviano (Phoenix Address, not CC schools)

In Cave Creek, you'd likely go down to Desert Ridge entertaiment complex for quick dining and big box shopping. Grocery stores are plentiful and never more than 5 minutes away from any of the above locations, so long as you stay south of Carefree Highway (less shopping north of Carefree Highway toward downtown Cave Creek).

Closest hospital would be Paradise Valley and then Scottsdale Shea, although Mayo Clinic has a large hospital south of Desert Ridge as well.


You're probably 45 minutes from downtown Scottsdale assuming no major traffic jams. 35-40 to the Phoenix Biltmore business district (where Schwab and others are).

You'll get more for your $ in Cave Creek. But Scottsdale will likely always drive higher prices on resale than CC. Just a bigger perceived cachet. There are some gorgeous locations in CC.

[cfellows]

Home prices in Northern Scottsdale and Cave Creek have increase more than 100% in the 6 years up until 2006. They actually declined close to 5% in the past year and will likely stay flat or decline further in the next year or more.

Cave Creek city limits actually extend quite a ways south of the main town of Cave Creek. I live at Dynamite and Tatum, about 5 miles south of downtown Cave Creek but still have a Cave Creek mailing address in Tatum Ranch. There are two grocery stores and Walgreens with a mile and strip shopping with two pretty good restaurants and an Ace Hardware less than half a mile away. Desert Ridge Mall with tons of restaurants and shopping is about 5 miles South. A lot of Scottsdale shopping is within 20 minutes as is the Paradise Valley mall. There are also two Costco stores and a Super Walmart within 20 minutes.

Chuck

[ajgranda]

Thanks for all the info. I will make sure to check out Cave Creek even if it is a little too far out. I'll also look into 85262. One more thing, are the temps any cooler in Cave Creek?

[nevercoldcall]

If you're going up to that area stick with Cave Creek - the commute will be horrific but not much worse than North Scottsdale, and Cave Creek is friendly - Scottsdale is a bunch of phony plastic pretentious loser debt-ridden stressed out jerks who are too obnoxious to even say hi to their neighbors.

Cave Creek is a laid back friendly horse town.

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[HarleyD]

I was thinking about possibly relocating to Cave Creek/N Scottsdale myself. Is there really a big difference in peoples attitudes? According to MLS listing Cave Creek isn't really that much less expensive. I've seen some listings in the millions for Cave Creek also. Is CC up and coming and a good investment still? I'm concerned that N Scottsdale has reached its peak and would make a bad investment.

Thank-you

[Alex2]

The Tonto neighborhood is great. If you are looking for a restaraunt go to Big Earl's. It is a great retro hamburger place where you can get Root Beer Floats. I loved those as a kid!

[JMX]

I wouldn't call Cave Creek an "up and coming" area. It's been an "up" area for a long, long time. It's always been a desirable area and will continue to be so. Home values will continue to rise in the area, but don't expect any explosive growth that you wouldn't also see in other areas.

Originally Posted by ajgranda

So the question is, how far of a commute during rush hour is it from Cave Creek to downtown Scottsdale/business district? How about Pheonix business district if work can't be found in Scottsdale?

I think it's more likely that your wife would be commuting to North Scottsdale rather than downtown Scottsdale. As such, the commute would not be bad; probably in the 20-30 minute range. Commuting into the two main business districts of Phoenix would be worse. The Camelback corridor (24th St. and Camelback) is probably at least 45 minutes and downtown Phoenix is probably an hour or more commute from Cave Creek.

Originally Posted by ajgranda

Also, where do most people do there shopping for for food, clothes, electronics, furniture, etc?

There's a grocery store at 48th St. and Carefree Hwy and I think another one at Scottsdale Rd. and Carefree Hwy. Either one would be close depending on what area of Cave Creek you're in.

As for other types of shopping, there is the Desert Ridge Marketplace, North Scottsdale area, or Paradise Valley Mall. There is also plenty of new development going on in the area (Cave Creek Road, Carefree Hwy, etc.) There is no shortage of shopping and dining opportunities in the North Valley.

[ravenclaw]

This message is probably too late but if not..RECONSIDER!
You're about to move out of Westchester county to Scottsdale, AZ??!!
I've known just about every square mile of it over the past 12 years and particularly North Scottsdale, CaveCreek and adjoining Carefree from a economic,social,educational,cultural and political aspect. In order to get an overview check out scottsdale-sucks.com.. read all the postings and readercomments...No it's not that bad...it's worse!
I have lived the lifestyle in the locations you're looking at and in houses even perhaps a bit more upscale, (just sold my 2 acre 4K sq ft. house in Piinacle Peak area). Finally after get stuck here for substatial business reasons ($$$). able to get myself and family outta her in late May. Actually the day my son has HS grad commencement exercises, we're booked to fly out the same evening, as my wife and I are so anxious to escape this ****hole of a town and the coming natural disasters,(May,June,July,August,September,October-unbelievable heat and bad air to add to all the other downsides).
Our big concern now is to correct the mental and educational damage inflicted on our children while stuck here for so many years.

PS. CaveCreek is a joke of a town with a a lot of rednecks running the local goverment beholden to the bar and restaurant interests that control the town. Lots of drinking, huge amount of motorcycle riders and noise, a pathetic aging Hells Angel hangout, lots of white trash and even traces of meth infiltration.

My advice to you...be careful what you wish for.