Neighborhood Video Guide
In the living desert of Arizona, just minutes from Phoenix and Sky Harbor International Airport, lies a city known around the world for its quality of life and its spectacular natural landscape.
Scottsdale is consistently ranked among the most desirable places to live in the country, and in this film I show you why. It combines culture and leisure with around 300 days of sunshine a year, and stretches more than 30 miles from the vibrant streets of Old Town to the boulder-strewn foothills of North Scottsdale, with the McDowell Mountains rising to the east.
30+ miles
From Old Town in the south to the high desert of North Scottsdale
~300
Days of sunshine in a typical year
$880K+
Approximate citywide median sale price, August 2026
30,500 acres
McDowell Sonoran Preserve, with more than 230 miles of trails
The homes
Leisure is a priority here, so many of Scottsdale's finest homes sit within golf communities, with distinctive architecture and glorious views of the mountains and the desert. You will find everything from lock-and-leave condominiums near Old Town to contemporary hillside estates and grand custom homes on acreage in the north.
As of the August 2026 reports, the citywide median sale price was roughly $880,000 to $905,000 and up about 10% on a year earlier. Luxury homes have their own market: below about $5 million supply is fairly tight, while above it buyers have more choice, so pricing and presentation make all the difference.
Neighborhoods
Scottsdale is long and narrow, and life changes as you head north. Walkable streets and mid-century homes give way to lakes and greenbelts, then guard-gated golf communities and, finally, the high Sonoran Desert. These are the areas buyers ask us about most.
Central & South
North Scottsdale
The high desert
East Scottsdale
Not sure where to start?
Golf every morning, a walk to dinner, or acreage and privacy? Mark and Shawna will point you to the right part of Scottsdale.
Call Mark →
Golf
With dramatic terrain and world-class designs, golf is one of the most popular ways to spend a Scottsdale morning. Every February the WM Phoenix Open is played at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course, famous for its stadium-style 16th hole. The 2027 tournament week is February 8 to 14.
Downtown · 85251
Galleries, restaurants and walking paths along the Arizona Canal, in one of the state's finest urban centers.
Old Town
Old Town flanks the Arizona Canal and is one of the state's finest urban centers, with shopping, restaurants, walking paths and around 100 galleries showing everything from contemporary art to pieces that celebrate the heritage of the West. On Thursday evenings the ArtWalk brings the gallery district to life, and each November Canal Convergence fills the waterfront with public art.
Fine dining comes in every form and style, and an evening in Old Town is the perfect way to end a Scottsdale day.
Resorts, shopping & sport
There are plenty of ways to work out, relax and be pampered, with resorts across the city offering sports, fitness centers, spas and restaurants. An afternoon of high-end shopping is a breeze too: Scottsdale Fashion Square, anchored by Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons all offer quality stores in beautiful settings.
The area is passionate about sport. Every February and March, baseball spring training draws teams and fans from across the country, and the Diamondbacks and Rockies share Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. January brings the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction, held January 23 to 31 in 2027.
The outdoors
Miles of hiking and biking trails wind through the Sonoran Desert. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve alone covers about 30,500 acres with more than 230 miles of trails, and the Pinnacle Peak trail is a local favorite for its views across the north of the city.
Winters are mild and sunny, typically in the 60s and 70s, and summers often climb above 110 degrees, so early mornings and evenings are when the trails come alive.
“It's the perfect way to end a day, after enjoying the excitement, beauty and charm of the spectacular city of Scottsdale.”
Mark Thomas
Good to know
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is about 10 miles from downtown Scottsdale, usually a 15 to 25 minute drive. Scottsdale Airport is popular for private aviation.
Scottsdale is served mainly by the Scottsdale Unified School District, along with other districts, charter and private schools. Always confirm school boundaries for a specific address with the district.
Mayo Clinic has a Scottsdale campus on Shea Boulevard and a Phoenix hospital campus near the north Scottsdale border. HonorHealth runs several Scottsdale hospitals.
Questions
Scottsdale stretches more than 30 miles from north to south, between Phoenix to the west and the McDowell Mountains to the east. The south is more urban and walkable, and the north is higher, quieter desert with larger lots.
Kierland has a Scottsdale mailing address, but it is inside Phoenix city limits. It is home to Kierland Commons and the Westin Kierland, with Scottsdale Quarter next door.
As of the August 2026 reports, the citywide median sale price was roughly $880,000 to $905,000. Luxury homes range from about $1 million to well over $10 million depending on the community. For an exact picture of a specific street, talk to Mark or Shawna.
It is a protected desert preserve of about 30,500 acres along Scottsdale's northeast edge, with more than 230 miles of trails for hiking, running, biking and horseback riding.
The tournament is played every February at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course. The 2027 tournament week is February 8 to 14.
Thomas & Perkins Luxury Estates
Whether you are moving here or thinking about selling, we know these neighborhoods well. Let's talk about what is happening on your street.
Mark Thomas grew up in England, worked for years as a designer and has filmed and presented luxury homes for Sotheby's International Realty. He and Shawna Perkins are Global Real Estate Advisors with Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty in Scottsdale.
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