Preparing for AZ/Scottsdale (Phoenix, Paradise Valley: real estate, condos, townhomes)

[Rudy612]

I'll be relocating to the area this coming Spring so I have a lot of time to research the area!

Finding real estate online is easy but finding the type of area I am looking for is very difficult.

What are the (affluent) historic or older gated communities/neighborhoods in the Phx area? The zip codes to these areas would be great!

I've been to the Grayhawk area in Scottsdale but I want to keep my options open.

Thnx!

[Zippyman]

historic and phoenix don't really go together - 50 years old is "historic" here, and those homes were never gated.

[Rudy612]

I kinda figured that, either or is what I should have asked. Sorry

[Zippyman]

No need to apologize - sorry if my response came out wrong.

if you want old and affluent, just look at the hills - evidently Phoenix's wealthy early settlers were part goat, because they built halfway up all of the mountains.

The areas around camelback mountain, north mountain, mummy mountain, and the like are very nice and surprisingly private - even without gates.

If you want newer and private, you'll probably end up north of grayhawk - there's a (gated) golf course that's a touch older (maybe 1980's?) on Hayden, just a mile or two north of Grayhawk with very nice homes. (pinnacle peak golf & country club)

If you really want historic, you'll end up very near the center of town - Phoenix grew alot like a tree does - the old stuff is in the middle.

[AZJoeD]

Sounds like you might like the neighborhoods around the resort area of Scottsdale/Paradise Valley. Some classic older homes with nice properties and condos and townhomes as well. Very few gated, but still quite and safe.

Check out zipcodes 85253, 85258, 85250.

[azdr0710]

as Joe says, 85253 is primarily the incorporated Town of Paradise Valley, usually considered the priciest zip code in the state.....there are several gated developments there, but more equally nice areas w/o gates....(some feel gates do little to deter crime)....homes here are usually less than 40 years old.....

the Biltmore area is a great in-town area with slightly older homes in a great convenient location....look NE of the 24th St/Camelback intersection in 85016....

Arcadia is a great in-town area, also...stay in the north half of 85018

though not at all historic, 85255 has the coveted north Scottsdale location, which some call the "upper east side" of Scottsdale (after Manhattan's desirable area!)

[pbenjamin]

Old and affluent would suggest areas like Encanto-Palmcroft (between 7th and 15th Aves, between Encanto and McDowell) and the North Central Ave corridor (between the 7th Ave and 7th Street, north of Missouri to a little bit north of Northern). No gates though.

[Rudy612]

Much appreciated!

By the way, I really like Scottsdale. I was a little surprised at downtown Phoenix, though. Having lived in cities like Portland, Seattle, San Fran, the layout is vastly different in Phx, or am I a little off-base here?

Short story, I've always been fascinated with the Arizona climate. Went there as a child for Christmas and was shell shocked, it was like summer up where I lived (upper mid-west) and now I'm finally making my way to Arizona

[AZJoeD]

You know, I was thinking that you might like Scottsdale Ranch. Very nice community with homes ranging from $250K on up. Community was built in 1980's, some very lovely homes. Quiet, convenient, some sections are adult, but not all. Even has a lake (Lake Serena). Many homes have docks and pontoon boats so you can go visit your neighbors via the waterway.

Here is an example of the type of home you will see there:

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn230/AZJoeD/20100511054210591675000000-o1.jpg (broken link)

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by Rudy612

I was a little surprised at downtown Phoenix, though. Having lived in cities like Portland, Seattle, San Fran, the layout is vastly different in Phx, or am I a little off-base here?

no, you're not off-base....those other cities have the advantage/disadvantage?? of geography....they had much tighter pieces of buildable land, so they went up, rather than out as in Phoenix.....tight-knit neighborhoods develop in those higher-density cities....in Phoenix, not so much....it's always been cheaper and easier to build further and further out on the vast amounts of flat land in the Phx area, so density is low, downtown became less important, and the car-centric culture of Phx inevitably developed.....