Cave Creek vs N Scottsdale (Phoenix, Gilbert: litigation, relocating, foreclosure)

[HarleyD]

Sorry for posting this again, but I never received any replies before. I was thinking about possibly relocating to Cave Creek/N Scottsdale. Is there really a big difference in peoples attitudes? Why do some people refer to Scottsdale as Snottsdale? I've also heard of Cave Creek being refered to as a "Cowboy" town. I am looking for for good culture and family values but I don't want things to be too laid back. I am coming from NYC. According to MLS listing Cave Creek isn't really that much less expensive except for some of the really high-end subdivisions of N Scottsdale like DC Ranch and Windgate. I've seen some listings in the millions for Cave Creek also. Is Cave Creek up and coming and still a good investment? I'm concerned that Northern Scottsdale has reached its peak and would make a bad investment. Are there still areas of N Scottsdale that are a good investment?

Thank-you for your help

[sablebaby]

The reason for the sterotyping is because scottsdale people usually have money, and lots of it. So, when a person has money many people think they are snobs (def can be true). Cave Creek known as a cowboy town (which I don't think I've heard too much of that) is due to lots of horse property and a laidback way of life. But now more and more development has happened up there and now there are lots of subdivisions in parts of it. I always thought of CC as more of an artsy type of town (I may be wrong).

[SElaine]

Cave Creek... Cowboy town... that's funny. Cave Creek is beautiful, a little more economic, and not quite as snobby as some Scottsdale neighborhoods. I'd live there.

As the previous poster said, there is money in Scottsdale and some people like to flaunt it. Not everyone is that way, of course. There are probably a lot of people giving it a bad name that are jealous they can't live there. The people I know that live in Scottsdale are down to earth people just like the rest of us. Scottsdale is certainly more "trendy". Designer this... designer that.... lots of suction and silicone....... To some people keeping up the appearance matters; to some it doesn't.

[gigi927]

You can't really pigeonhole Cave Creek into one bucket. It is a melding of old and new, new money and old homesteaders, cowboys and artsy people. I look at 3 distinct parts of Cave Creek:

1. There is the old part of Cave Creek, that includes the immediate downtown area, which is a combination of both southwestern arts and cowboy (believe me, there are plenty of cowboys still around - they have a rodeo!). There are also small pockets of older homes, built in the 60s and 70s, that are either really run down or owned by people who are very anti-HOA and do not like to follow anybody's rules.

2. There is the newer part of Cave Creek that encompass tract home subdivisions in Dove Valley Ranch, Colina del Norte, and others.

3. Then there are newer and really upscale parts of Cave Creek, both on Black Mountain, just north and to the west of downtown, and other small pockets scattered about. These upscale homes are very expensive, ranging from $1 to $3-5MM and more, depending upon location and acreage. Some are part of small infill developments; others are stand alone properties on 1-X acres.

I'm sure the cowboys/ranchers will leave as more of Cave Creek gets Phoenix-ified. The land is just too valuable.

[nevercoldcall]

LOL ... I love seeing others perpetuate the myth that Scottsdale has money. If you look up the numbers, you'll find that Scottsdale is one of the most debt-ridden communities in America. In other words, there's no wealth there, just lots and lots of debt, and a seriously high foreclosure rate.

Sorry but there's no real wealth in Scottsdale. There's nothing in that town to attract real wealth. Why on earth do you think I packed up and moved to Newport Beach once I could afford it???????

Cave Creek is most definitely a better choice. It's upscale, nicer, and much, much, MUCH friendlier. Phoenix magazine recently did profiles on all the Valley cities, and when it came to Scottsdale, all they had to say is that it's known for it's unfriendly and rude residents and for having the worst drivers in all of Arizona.

Scottsdale is a ghetto for rejects who can't afford to live in a place like Newport Beach but for some reason go through life pretending that they can.

[SpeedyAZ]

LOL ... I love seeing others perpetuate the myth that Scottsdale has money. If you look up the numbers, you'll find that Scottsdale is one of the most debt-ridden communities in America. In other words, there's no wealth there, just lots and lots of debt, and a seriously high foreclosure rate.

Sorry but there's no real wealth in Scottsdale. There's nothing in that town to attract real wealth. Why on earth do you think I packed up and moved to Newport Beach once I could afford it???????

Cave Creek is most definitely a better choice. It's upscale, nicer, and much, much, MUCH friendlier. Phoenix magazine recently did profiles on all the Valley cities, and when it came to Scottsdale, all they had to say is that it's known for it's unfriendly and rude residents and for having the worst drivers in all of Arizona.

Scottsdale is a ghetto for rejects who can't afford to live in a place like Newport Beach but for some reason go through life pretending that they can.

Scottsdale does have money and not everyone flaunts it. There are many down-to-earth people in Scottsdale that have serious $$ but you'd never know it by the way they act.

Not everyone wants to live in Newport Beach, I sure don't! You act like it's a utopia; well golfing on one of the beautiful courses in Scottsdale in my personal utopia. I love it here!

As for the original poster, I'm sorry for these rude comments as they really aren't helping you chose between the two.

N. Scottsdale offers a mix of great family-friendly communities with young professionals and retirees. Some of the most popular ones are Grayhawk (where I live) and DC Ranch.

Cave Creek is more of an upscale Cowboy town. I haven't been there for a while but it's also very nice. I know they have some great desert scenery out there.

You really can't make a bad choice between the two. Good luck.

[gigi927]

Harley, ignore the poster that somehow keeps managing to post on here even though he is banned....???? Scottsdale is certainly not for everyone, and there are nuggets of truth in what that poster says (in an exaggerated fashion) but it is a great place for many.

My family, for one, was debt free the entire time we lived in Scottsdale and we drove a minivan.

[AZ_singlemother]

Both cities are very expensive. After looking through the listings, Cave Creek is more expensive. There's a lot of rezoning going on right now. If you buy land there, it's shady. There's some litigation going on right now. Scottsdale's crime is higher right now. North Scottsdale is overpriced so you should probably not purchase anything until the pricing correction.

Don't limit yourself to these cities, there are other cities that are safer and more affordable...i'm eying Gilbert - yes #22 safest city in the US. All residents I know are not complaining and it's upscaly with awesome schools.

[livingincavecreek]

gig927 is right on -- Cave Creek does have several distinct areas (older - downtown, North Cave Creek) and the Tatum Ranch area (newer - south cave creek/far north phoenix). I live in Cave Creek (the newer area) and love it here. I enjoy being very close to old Cave Creek - one of the coolest old cowboy towns ever as well as just a 10 minute drive from tons of shopping, restaurants, and the "Scottsdale" experience.

That said, I prefer living a little off the beaten path in Cave Creek -- although technically I'm only about 2 miles from North Scottsdale. I take walks along the desert and feel that the little bit of "rustic-ness" that still remains up here is cool.

Keep in mind, though, that there is going to be SIGNIFICANT growth between Cave Creek & Phoenix in the next few years and the infrastructure is no way going to be able to support this growth. This means traffic, congestion, and spending far too much time on the few 4-lane roads that connect Cave Creek with Phoenix. This growth is projected to be enough that I am seriously considering selling my home within a year or two and moving - interestingly enough - into North Scottsdale. For all its flaws, at least it's not on the urban fringes any longer & the infrastructure for the most part can support the community. Besides, I think it's more about how you want to live your life rather than if you live, geographically, 10 miles in any particular direction (that is really what you're dealing with comparing the two towns).

Good luck!

[yukon]

What's considered North Scottsdale? North of Loop 101 maybe?