Where exactly is "Northern" Scottsdale? (school, pool)

[gigi927]

Having just lived in FAR north Scottsdale for 4 years, I can tell you that yes, you can feel really far out at times. But in the summer, when the area is 8 to 10 degrees cooler than anywhere else in the valley, you don't mind it as much.

I have 2 toddlers, and even with the 10 degree differential it's really hard to find things to do with kids without going crazy in the summer when you live that far north. If you choose to live in 85255 or 85262, definitely get involved with the moms groups or parent playgroups. You'll be spending lots of time at the mall as well.

Both zip codes are extremely expensive. Our house sold for $250 a square foot; you can expect right now to pay somewhere between $200 and $250 a square foot for housing, and that's after the market really crapped out and is in a correction period now. I'd expect that it will go up again from here at some point between now and the next 2 years.

Keep in mind that most of far north Scottsdale (85262) are in the Cave Creek School District (Cactus Shadows High School) and not the Scottsdale school system. if you have any questions about the far north area, feel free to PM me. We sold real estate in the area for 3 years as well and it might provide a sanity check for whatever your realtor's might telling you, too!

Also note that allergies can also be very bad in Arizona too. We actually moved to Austin in part because my husband was allergic to the palo verde tree. Good luck with your search!

[ajgranda]

Approximately how many miles is Scottsdale from the Northern end to Southern end? I heard someone mention about 35 miles. Is that right? If so, Scottsdale is one BIG city, longer than Manhattan.

Thanks, AL

[aj661]

I think it's a little less, but still between 25 and 30 miles.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by ajgranda

Approximately how many miles is Scottsdale from the Northern end to Southern end? I heard someone mention about 35 miles. Is that right? If so, Scottsdale is one BIG city, longer than Manhattan.

Thanks, AL

That may be slightly overstated, but it's not far off. It's definitely over 25 miles, maybe over 30, from the northern border, which abuts the Tonto National Forest, to the southern border with Tempe. What makes that length more interesting is that the most populated areas of Scottsdale are generally less than five miles wide, resulting in a tall, skinny city.

[aj661]

Yea, I used Google Earth along Scottsdale Rd from Tempe. I had no idea where the actual city limits are to the north. I stopped measuring when the houses thinned out and came up with about 26-27 miles.

It's hard to believe Pima turned into a dirt trail less than a half-mile north of Shea when I was a teen. From there, it was nothing more than a foot path all the way to Pinnacle Peak!

[ajgranda]

Thanks for the replies. Can't wait to check out Scottsdale for myself this September. I hope it's all I think it will be.

AL

[mhouse2001]

Since Scottsdale is about 30 miles from north to south, it's hard to say where North Scottsdale begins and ends. I do agree that when I drive north and hit Shea Blvd., I feel like I'm in another city. I've looked at properties in North Scottsdale north of Frank Lloyd Wright and wasn't impressed. I think if you're going to live in Scottsdale, live in central Scottsdale or south of Shea. You'll thank me when you realize exactly how much driving you'll avoid by living more centrally. But, hey, you might like 30 mile drives to go to a restaurant. North Scottsdale is more pretentious, the drivers are worse (they live in their car!), and there's little or no shade. Forget the elevation increase, you can't beat shade! This push to live further and further out yet still lay claim to living in a city is beyond me. If gas gets to $5 a gallon, all of the people who live in the suburbs and exurbs will gripe and complain. What a mistake to base your life on 'getting away from it all' when the real goal is to unify and cooperate with each other. You can't do that behind miles of walled in subdivisions. Sorry, I'm ranting. Skip North Scottsdale and live more centrally for all to benefit.

[fotoverdi]

We just bought a house this week in Peoria, and they told us (several realtors) that Peoria has some of the best schools. We bought in Vistancia and it has a beautiful neighborhood and mountain views. You can buy anything from the mid 300's through the millions (Blackstone part of development).

[ajgranda]

Thanks for the suggestions, but we have a young daughter and want to stay in the Scottsdale School District.

Originally Posted by fotoverdi

We just bought a house this week in Peoria, and they told us (several realtors) that Peoria has some of the best schools. We bought in Vistancia and it has a beautiful neighborhood and mountain views. You can buy anything from the mid 300's through the millions (Blackstone part of development).

[wilberry]

buy a house with a pool