At Home in McCormick Ranch

Real Estate Market Distress for Scottdale, Arizona 85258, including McCormick Ranch (Click chart for a larger view)

In reviewing the Cromford Report this morning, I stumbled on the fact that the Scottsdale zip code, 85258, is experiencing the least stress in today’s real estate market. While it’s still in the Caution zone, compared to other areas of Scottsdale and the Phoenix metropolitan area, the area that’s home to McCormick Ranch and also, Gainey Ranch is doing reasonably well.

Approximately 15% of the homes on the market in this area, which is roughly between Indian Bend and Shea, Scottsdale Road and East 106th Street, are either bank-owned or advertised short sales.  These homes are selling at a faster rate and during December 2008, accounted for 36% of the sales.

One very interesting and very unusual aspect I’m seeing in this chart is the price per square foot of short sales.  Typically, normal sale will have a noticeably higher price per square foot, when compared to short and bank-owned sale.  Not so, here.  Even more interesting is that the price per square for solds is higher than those listed, and you will see for normal and bank-owned sales, that the sales price is quite a bit lower than listing price.

Good news is that McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch seem to be doing better than most in this tumultuous real estate market.  At the same time, you can see that it’s still a tough market to sell a house in.

I have had two condos listed for sale in the Villages 5 complex, just south of Mountain View Road, between 92nd and 96th.  One closed several weeks ago, and the other ground level unit is still available.  The condo has a prime Scottsdale location, close to shopping, medical office, the hospital, and the freeway.  Walking paths connect the community, and offer quiet spaces for dog walking and the like.  Tennis courts and community swimming pools are also strategically located.

For more information on this condo and its surrounding location, please visit www.9420Purdue.com.

A view of this move-in ready condo:

And photos of the beautiful green grounds:

John Wake over at HomeSmart emailed me some info on one of his listings in McCormick Ranch. It’s not often that a gorgeous, rare waterfront home in exclusive guarded community of Las Palomas in McCormick Ranch comes on on market.

Call or email if you’d like to take a look at it.

Thanks to John Wake over at McCormick Ranch Real Estate and Homes for sharing info about one of my listings in the Villages 5, an excellent condo community, just east of 90th Street and Mountain View. Three pools, tennis courts, and walking paths. A great location to enjoy the winter months in Scottsdale.

Here’s a pleasant surprise in my weekly report from Altos Research for Scottsdale, Arizona 85258.  McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch are two of the major communities in this zip code. 

• Median home list prices are rising.
• The number of houses on the market is decreasing.
• The time to sell is also decreasing.

Still a buyer’s market, but for how long, as we head into the prime time season of great weather and winter visitors.

Click on the chart to get the Executive Summary.  Call or email me if you’d like the compete report.

I’ve only been able to find one 4th of July fireworks display in Scottsdale and it’s in the heart of our favorite zip code 85258, home to the McCormick and Gainey Ranch communities.

• Scottsdale Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch - 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road
  I called and talked to the front desk and they confirmed they will have a fireworks show.  For a front row seat, you will need to be a guest of the hotel or have a reservation at one of their restaurants.  From experience, I know that this show is visible from the surrounding neighborhoods.

If you want to get an encore, here’s a great way to wrap up the three day weekend with live music and more fireworks:

• The McCormick-Ranch Train Park will have fireworks on Sunday night (July 6th), presumably right after the weekly free concert ends.  This week’s band is CC Rider Express, a retro 80’s band.

Willing to drive a little (or a lot) to see some fireworks?  Artur and Joanna have compiled an extensive list of fireworks displays around Phoenix.

As you watch the fireworks, you may be reminded of what we are celebrating today as our founding fathers crafted the Declaration of Independence.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  Brave men.

The long awaited McCormick Ranch entrance update is looking better by the day.  This past week the horse sculptures were installed.

Click on the photo to see a larger version.  Three sculptures have been installed. One sculpture at the left most part of the photo just above the water line, and then two more over the water features. 

 
Again, you can click on the photo to get a close up view.

 
The sculptures are even more beautiful close up.

Keep an eye on the progress.   It looks like the entrance will be done soon, and I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks with all the plantings completed.  This is one project that’s been well worth the wait!

I used to play golf a couple times a week, before my son was born.  Not that I was all that good, but I did enjoy getting outdoors, honing my game, and socializing in a relaxed environment.  Now, my office overlooks the McCormick Ranch Golf Club Pine Course, where I watch others play.

I’ve heard statistics about the decline in the number of players, read that golf course managment staff are looking for creative solutions to get people back on the course, and heard that younger executives are looking for more extreme forms of recreation.  It looks like the PGA has now created a way to re-introduce the game in the form of Play Golf America Day. 

So, tomorrow, you will find me over at the Play Golf America Day event at McCormick Ranch Golf Club, checking out the event.   I’d love to start playing again.

Next week, June 4-6, McCormick Ranch will host the first tournament of the Gateway Desert Summer Series.  It’s a great chance to get out and watch some of the young golfers compete.

Free summer concerts resume this Sunday evening, May 11th, at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, on the southeast corner of Indian Bend and Scottsdale Roads.  Concerts run every Sunday, through mid-July, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.  You’ll want to bring a blanket or chair.

The Line-up:

May 11: Raun Alosi and 60 North (A mix of soul, R&B, classic rock and pop)
May 18: Groove Merchants (Big City sound with hot horn section)
May 25: Mogollon (High energy country)
June 1: The Hamptons (Early Rock n’ Roll to today’s hits)
June 8: Rock Lobster (Retro 80’s)
June 15: Furious George (Current rock tunes with classics)
June 22: North (Mix of Classic rock and contemporary hits)
June 29: Affinity (Party/Swing/Variety)
July 6: CC Rider Express (Retro 80’s)
July 13: Aaron Nelson Project (Variety Pop Rock)

I live on McCormick Ranch Golf course and feel just a bit spoiled waking up to these beautiful views each morning.

Here’s a Flickr photo set of the golf course, so you can see more of photos of the course. Also you can subscribe to this photo set, so you will be updated as I add more pictures of this centrally located public course.

For more information about the specifics of playing on the centrally located public course, your can visit the McCormick Ranch Golf Club site.