McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona - How to Plan a Community

McCormick Ranch, a planned community in Scottsdale, Arizona, dates back to the mid-40's when the McCormick family purchased 160 acres in Scottsdale for a winter home. The McCormicks were descendants of Cyrus McCormick, who invented the reaper, and John Rockefeller. Anne McCormick had a passion for raising horses, so soon after moving in, she began breeding horses and acquiring property around the original location.

In 1970, the property was purchased by Kaiser-Aetna. By this time, the ranch occupied seven square miles. Kaiser-Aetna hired George Fretz, who was the City Planner for Scottsdale, to plan the community. At the time of the purchase, it was the largest single piece of property ever sold for a planned community within city limits.

Ongoing development of the community was based on a plan created by Gruen Associates and Scottsdale Environmental Planners and Consultants.

Amenities include two 18-hole golf courses, over 25 miles of bicycle paths, tennis courts, and man-made lakes which accommodate sailing and fishing. The area offers fantastic views of surrounding mountains and well-maintained roads and landscaping.

The community is very concerned with maintaining the proper authentic "look", so the McCormick Ranch Property Owners' Association has established a set of rules that residents must abide by. This not only protects the visual integrity of the community, it helps protect home values.

We have properties available right now in this highly desirable part of Scottsdale, so call Choice Group Realty today to discuss your real estate needs.

Heaven in Arizona: the Desert Mountain Community of Scottsdale

Today we are going to talk about the Desert Mountain community in northern Scottsdale. For golfers, this community truly is heaven on earth. It was named one of the world's best golf communities by Robb Report magazine. It's no wonder considering that it features SIX Jack Nicklaus Signature courses. There is no location on the entire planet with more. Nicklaus himself claimed that building the Desert Mountain courses were one of the highlights of his career and he believes that it will always be known as one of the greatest courses in the world. Desert Mountain also have a very extensive practice facility, with four separate practice ranges and help available from PGA-trained professionals.

To go along with the six courses, there are also six separate club houses. Each club has its own golf shop as well as multiple dining options. The Sonoran fitness center and spa provides its members with a plethora of fitness options and spa treatments. The tennis facility, often called the "Wimbledon of the West", features three different playing surfaces: grass, hard composition, and clay.

Homes in the area are designed to blend with the beautiful surroundings, using timber, stucco, stonework and metal roofs to capture that "old west" feel. The homes range in elevation from 2,500 to 4,800 feet above sea level, giving the community an average temperature 5 to 10 degrees below the Phoenix area. Prices range from around half-million to multi-millions.

If you would like to learn more about living in Desert Mountain, or want to hear about properties for sale there, call Choice Group Realty today. We have lots of homes in Desert Mountain to show you.

Fountain Hills, Arizona - Natural Beauty and Room to Stretch Out

We've talked about some of the more up-scale, "planned community" type areas to live in around the Phoenix area. Today we're going to discuss a wonderful little town called Fountain Hills, famous for its fountain that shoots water over 500 feet in the air.

Fountain Hills is surrounded by desert on all sides - the Fort McDowell Indian Community to the East, the McDowell Mountain Range to the West, the McDowell Mountain Regional Park to the North, and the Salt River Pima Indian Reservation to the South. The naturally enclosed nature of the town and the fine people who live there give the area a special "down-home" kind of feel, even though it is still just a short drive from the big city. Houses in the community tend to be bigger, and lots bigger, than other similar communities around Phoenix.

One of the main advantages to buying a home in Fountain Hills is that no matter where it is located, you will have a spectacular view. There are numerous parks, ball fields, walking paths, and of course, golf courses - some of the finest (and most difficult) golf courses in the country.

Fountain Hills offers its own complete eduction for its children, serving pre-school through 12th grade. Montessori and Christian eduction is available, and there is even a strong network available for home schooling.

In terms of attractions, there are numerous staged events every year as well as a plethora of outdoor activities that can be engaged in year-round. As mentioned above, the town is home to a fountain that is capable of pumping water over 500 feet into the air, although it is generally set to about 300 feet. It has been featured in the Guinness Book of World's Records as the world's tallest fountain. If you are a gambler, the Fort McDowell Casino has the state's largest card room. Whitewater rafting is a popular activity down the Salt River. These are just a couple of the MANY activities available to the residents of Fountain Hills.

If quality of life, room to stretch, and peacefulness are what you are looking for, there are fewer places that will give you that like Fountain Hills. If you would like to investigate living in this wonderful little town, contact Choice Group Realty today.

Desert Highlands - An Introduction to One of Arizona's Most Exclusive Communities

Today we're going to introduce you to one of Arizona's most exclusive communities - Desert Highlands.

Desert Highlands is a private, members-only community located in Scottsdale. The community occupies 850 acres in the Sonoran desert. There are currently nearly 500 completed homes in the community, as well as lots available for new construction. Homes in the area range in price from $1 million to $11 million.

The community revolves around an 18 hole Jack Nicklaus golf course that hosted the 1983 and 1984 PGA Skins Game. Other amenities in this beautiful community include an 18 hole putting course, a world class clubhouse, pond, walking course, and basketball court. There is also a 7,000 square foot fitness center that includes weight machines, cardio machines, free weights, personal trainers and masseuses.

There are a number of services available to residences of the community, such as a landscaping service, a pool maintenance service, home management (while you are away), and a concierge service.

Residents of Desert Highlands are protected by a state of the art security system and professionally trained security personnel.

If you would like to live in this world class private community, call Choice Group Realty today!

Your Dream Home Awaits in Paradise Valley, Arizona

Paradise Valley - it just sounds nice doesn't it? And you know what? It is! Paradise Valley is a small town near Scottsdale in Maricopa County. It is home to a number of celebrities, including Alice Cooper (who we discussed in a previous blog post). It also home to twelve resorts, making it a premier tourist destination in the Central Arizona region. The small town covers about 15 square miles, none of which is covered in water. The hilly areas outside of town include the Mummy Mountain Preserve Trust, which is over 300 acres of pristine wilderness.

Education is a high priority in the town. Children of Paradise Valley residents attend the Paradise Valley Unified School District, one of the better school districts in the state. In fact, Newsweek ranks the top two regular high schools in the state as BOTH being in the Paradise Valley district. Altogether, the district has 23 schools ranked as "excelling" and 8 as "high performing".

There are around 14 thousand people in the town, with the largest age group being 25 to 44. So this is not a retirement community - just a community of people looking to live life to its fullest.

Homes in the area have a median resale value of over $1 million, with many selling for $15 million or more. So it is definitely an exclusive area. If you are ready to step up to a fine Paradise Valley home, call Choice Group Realty today. We'll help you find the home of your dreams!

Mesa, Arizona - the Biggest, Little City Around

Quick quiz - which of these cities (not MSA's, just cities themselves) has the highest population - St. Louis, Pittsburgh, or Mesa?

The answer is Mesa!

Mesa, Arizona is an interesting city of around 450 thousand, making it a large city unto itself, even though it is part of the Phoenix MSA.

The city is a mix of all different kinds of people, including about a 10% Mormon population. The city was founded by Mormons and still houses one of the religion's oldest temples.

Despite its relatively large size, the city is mostly residential, as its residences make their living primarily by driving elsewhere, such as into Phoenix.

The median family income of the city is $49 thousand. Like most cities, Mesa has its fair share of poverty, although the city also has more than its share of extravagant neighborhoods. If you work in the Phoenix area, Mesa may be an excellent option for you to locate your family. Call Choice Group Realty today and let us find your perfect home in this little big city.

Home Prices Falling? The FEDs State Otherwise.

Many studies indicate that home prices are slowing. However, the OFHEO (Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight) states its housing price index saw a 4.3 percent increase during the first quarter of 2007. This is the least amount of growth in a decade.

The NAR (National Association of Realtors) reported a price decline of 1.8 percent during the first quarter vs the same period last year. The OFHEO also reported a decline in prices.

The discrepancy between reports may be due to the calculations of each organization.