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McCormick Ranch

McCormick Ranch

McCormick Ranch is one of Scottsdale’s most famous master-planned communities. It sits just off Indian Bend Road and Shea Boulevard, east of Paradise Valley and west of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. It spans more than 4300 acres and is one of the largest master-planned communities in the United States.

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The community itself came into existence in 1969 when this groundbreaking development transformed the arid land into one of the Valley’s first and finest residential communities and resort. The entire area is hallmarked with upscale amenities and features like paths for biking and hiking, expansive luxury homes, fine dining, golf courses, numerous tennis acres and more than 130 acres of man-made lakes.

Even before residential development began in McCormick Ranch, however, the area in which it is located has rich history that precedes it. The area that makes up the community was initially settled in 1921. The Jolly family built a large home there and settled the land for farming and ranching. The family sold the land to Merle Cheney in 1942, who then sold the land to Fowler and Anne McCormick.

The McCormicks used the property to raise Arabian horses and also spend their winters in the warmer climate. They sold the land in 1969 to Kaiser-Aetna, which in turn had the property zoned for residential building. The first of the new homes in the community were built shortly afterwards. Building of new homes continued until as recently as 2020.

Today, the real estate market in McCormick Ranch consists primarily of resale attached and single family homes. Well-known real estate agents like Carl Chapman REALTOR and West USA Realty are readily available to show the listings in the community to interested buyers. There are still a number of empty lots that are zoned for new construction available as well.

People who move into McCormick Ranch enjoy the numerous amenities that are available to them year round. They also enjoy close proximity to Phoenix, which is only 27 miles to the southwest of the community.

McCormick Ranch is also close to the Loop 101, which takes people into nearby Tempe and connects to the 202, which goes directly into Phoenix. Closer to home, residents of McCormick Ranch are just minutes from nearby shopping districts, such as the Paseo Village Shopping Center and the Seville Shopping Center. Both offer world class specialty shops, fine dining, grocery stores and more.

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The homes in McCormick Ranch likewise offer unmatched luxury and beauty. Buyers can find both single family homes and attached homes, which include condominiums and townhouses, for sale in the community. There are also dozens of different styles and layouts from which to choose.

The median sale price for a home on the market in McCormick Ranch sits at around $507,000. Current sales prices range from $195,000 to $2.599 million. Closing prices can range from $320,000 to $2.68 million. The typical McCormick Ranch home costs around $315 per square foot.

Further, the homes for sale in McCormick Ranch can span in size from 520 to more than 6300 square feet. They can also have anywhere from one to seven bedrooms and one to seven bathrooms. Most homes sit on quarter acre to five acre lots and have two and three car garages.

The price for the typical home in McCormick Ranch has increased by more than $100,000 in the last year. Even more, buyers typically get 95 percent of their asking price, on average. Homes typically sell in 46 days or less when they are put up for sale.

Property taxes in McCormick Ranch average around $5400 per year. Likewise, homeowners in the community pay around $300 per quarter for homeowners association fees.

The prices of the homes for sale in McCormick Ranch are affordable given their upscale sizes and beauty. The exterior of many homes feature plaster or stone construction. They also have desert landscaping with rocks and succulents, as well as covered and gated front entrances. Many homes likewise have decorative tile rooftops.

The insides of the homes for sale in McCormick Ranch likewise feature elegance and upscale beauty. Some of the features that buyers can anticipate in their new homes include:

  • Sky lights
  • Fireplaces
  • Tall windows
  • High ceilings
  • Ceiling fans
  • Chandeliers
  • Sliding patio doors
  • Oak cabinetry
  • Electric ranges
  • Large utility rooms
  • Pantries or broom closets
  • Large walk-in showers
  • Spacious garden bathtubs
  • Dual vanity sinks
  • Lighted bathroom mirrors
  • Carpeted bedrooms
  • Expansive double door walk-in closets

Many of the homes for sale in McCormick Ranch also have large enclosed backyards that come with privacy fencing made out of brick or stone. The backyards are large enough to accommodate outdoor furniture sets, as well as above ground swimming pools and fire pits.

Everyday life in McCormick Ranch outside of one’s home falls under the governance of the McCormick Ranch Property Owners Association, or MRPOA. Every homeowner is a member of this association and pays quarterly dues for their memberships.

The MRPOA consists of a nine member board of directors, which itself includes a board president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. There are five additional members-at-large that serve on the MRPOA.

Each member of the board is elected to serve a three year term. Elections are staggered, and each homeowner is allowed one vote in each election.

The board of directors oversee community committees that assist in governing McCormick Ranch. The committees include those for architectural control, architectural review and administration. Any homeowner in the community can volunteer to participate in these committees.

Moreover, McCormick Ranch consists of 45 individual neighborhoods, most of which have their own homeowners associations that govern the daily lives within them. Many neighborhood HOAs employ onsite property management companies to assist in the daily function and operation of the neighborhoods in McCormick Ranch. These management companies often maintain an onsite property manager and assistant manager that oversee repair and maintenance projects, hire contractors and handle other everyday concerns in the neighborhoods that employ them.

 

The MRPOA website also serves as a valuable portal of information for people who live in the community. On the website, they can find governance documents regarding topics like:

 

  • Architectural control
  • Architectural changes
  • Boating and fishing
  • Budgets
  • Finances
  • Land usage
  • Legal information
  • Paint colors for houses in the community
  • Retaining walls
  • Tree policy
  • Use of premises

The MRPOA website likewise offers a map of the various communities in McCormick Ranch, which can be helpful especially to newcomers who want to know in what neighborhoods their homes are located.

The website for the McCormick Ranch Property Owners Association also provides a list of shopping centers that are close to the community. These shopping areas include:

  • Mountain View Plaza
  • Paseo Village
  • Scottsdale Fiesta Shopping Center
  • Scottsdale Seville
  • Shops at Hayden
  • Shops on Shea
  • Shops on Via Linda

Finally, the MRPOA website offers numerous ways for homeowners in the community to contact the board of directors, as well as onsite property managers and administrators. It makes available an email form that people can use to submit questions and concerns.

The MRPOA also oversees the availability, safety and condition of the amenities that are available year round to community homeowners. The premier amenities include two 18-hole championship golf courses that offer challenging greens and accommodate players of all skill levels. The courses are carefully manicured and kept emerald green throughout the year.

Even more, community residents have access to the more than 130 acres of man-made lakes found in McCormick Ranch. These lakes are ideal for outdoor enjoyments like boating, fishing and swimming. Many of the lakes also have boat docks where residents can dock their vessels when they are not sailing.

For people who want to stay in shape, they can take to the community’s more than 25 miles of trails. These trails are ideal for hiking and biking. There are also pedestrian paths for jogging and walking.

People who live in McCormick Ranch likewise can join the McCormick Ranch Golf Club. This club offers a number of upscale amenities to people who pay for memberships to it. For example, it has an onsite restaurant that is open seven days a week for both breakfast and lunch. It offers traditional American fare with a Southwestern flare.

 

The restaurant offers spectacular views of nearby Camelback Mountain, as well as the lakes that are close to the golf club. On Sundays, it is open for brunch. The restaurant also has special buffets on holidays like Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day.

Additionally, members have access to a bar that serves cocktails, beers and wines. There is also a refreshment stand available for snacks and drinks.

Members of the McCormick Ranch Golf Club can likewise reserve facilities there for special events like weddings and parties. The golf club can hold both indoor and outdoor festivities. It has spaces that offer Camelback Mountain as the perfect backdrop for members’ events.

The West Lawn Pavilion at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club, for example, features a floor to ceiling accordion. It spans more than 6000 square feet and has glass doors and an emerald lawn. It can accommodate up to 400 people.

Members can also reserve the Clubhouse McCormick Ranch at the golf club. This clubhouse offers a more laid back and homelike setting. It can accommodate up to 100 people and has the Palm Terrace and a patio available for special events. All of the venues at the golf club offer optional onsite catering services.

Finally, McCormick Ranch is part of the Scottsdale Unified School District. Parents of school-aged children who live in the community have a number of public schools available to them. Some of the closest schools to the community include Cochise Elementary School and Saguaro High School.

The Scottsdale Unified School District is one of the best performing districts in the state. It gets a national grade of A for its overall excellence. It gets an A grade in specific areas like academics, teachers and college preparation. It gets a B grade in areas like clubs and activities, diversity and health and safety.

Scottsdale’s public school district has an enrollment of just over 22,000 students. These students are dispersed among the district’s 36 elementary, middle and high schools. The population of the district allows it to offer a student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1, which is just above the national ratio average of 16:1.

In the state of Arizona itself, the Scottsdale Unified School District ranks as the fourth best among the state’s 115 public school districts. It also ranks fourth best for student athletes in the state. It ranks seventh for having the best quality of teachers.

State standardized test scores show that the district’s students outperform their counterparts throughout most of the country. The national test proficiency in subjects like math and reading are 34 and 35 percent, respectively. However, Scottsdale Unified School District students achieve proficiency rates of 63 percent in both subjects.

The high state standardized test scores attest to the district’s high graduation percentage. Ninety percent of the students in the district go on to graduate from high school. Those who take the ACT college admissions test score an average of 28, which is markedly higher than the national ACT test score average of 20.6.

A majority of students who graduate from the Scottsdale Unified School District go on to attend one of the in-state colleges or universities. Most of them choose to attend Arizona State University. However, a fair number go on to attend the University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University

McDowell Mountain Ranch

McDowell Mountain Ranch is an upscale family-oriented master-planned community that offers a wealth of amenities for residents of all ages. It is located just off Thompson Peak Parkway in Scottsdale. The history of the community dates to 1995 when the first luxury homes were built here.

Construction on new homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch continued through 2020, and the real estate market now consists of both single-family and attached homes, including townhouses and condominiums. Real estate professionals in the Scottsdale area, such as Carl Chapman REALTOR and West USA Realty, showcase the listings to people who want to move into the community.

People who move into McDowell Mountain Ranch enjoy access to upscale amenities year round. These enjoyments include miles of hiking and biking trails, parks, a community center, swimming pools, sports courts and splash fountains.

Homeowners in McDowell Mountain Ranch are also just minutes from some of the best attractions and services in nearby Scottsdale. They can easily access any number of shops, grocery stores, banks and pharmacies in town. They are also close to Westworld Equestrian Center and the Scottsdale Aquatic Center, as well as a branch of the Scottsdale public library and the Citizens Service Center.

People who live in McDowell Mountain Ranch likewise have access to the community’s eponymous golf club. This club offers courses that are thousands of yards in size. It is open year round to people who join and want to play golf or access amenities there.

The lifestyle in McDowell Mountain Ranch is also geared toward charity and community involvement. In fact, the community donated 900 acres of land in 1994 specifically for the creation of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The donation, at the time, was valued at more than $7 million.

With all of these amenities, it is easy to understand why newcomers to the Greater Phoenix area often eye McDowell Mountain Ranch as their ideal choice for buying a home. This expansive community is currently home to more than 4000 houses, all of which feature unique styles and layouts. The styles of homes include patio and golf homes, as well as studios and apartments that are available for lease.

The community is also broken into 26 distinct neighborhoods, all of which have their own pace of life and amenities. Some of the neighborhoods also have guarded gates to enhance the safety and peace of mind of people who buy homes in them.

The spaciousness and luxury of the homes also give owners peace of mind and full enjoyment of living in McDowell Mountain Ranch. The median sale price for a home in this upscale community sits at $600,000. However, the asking prices often range from $315,000 to $1.925 million.

The average closing prices range from $315,000 to $2.4 million. The typical per-square foot price for a home in McDowell Mountain Ranch is around $325.

Homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch average in size from 1100 to more than 6400 square feet. They can have anywhere from two to seven bedrooms and two to seven bathrooms. They sit on quarter to whole acre lots and have two and three car garages.

Home prices in McDowell Mountain Ranch have increased by more than 25 percent in the last year. Property taxes in the community average around $3995 a year. People who buy homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch also cost around $330 per quarter.

Homes that are listed for sale in McDowell Mountain Ranch typically stay on the market fewer than 71 days before they are sold. Between 20 and 40 homes, on average, are sold each month in the community.

Homes in the community sell relatively quickly because of their upscale appearances and features. The outsides features desert-friendly landscapes that are full of succulents and rocks and pebbles. They also have decorative terra cotta tile rooftops, and many of the homes also have covered front entrances.

The insides of the homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch also come with upscale features. These include:

  • Sliding patio doors
  • Painted wood cabinets
  • Gas ranges
  • Wood floors
  • Quartz counters
  • Side-by-side fridges and freezers
  • Large utility rooms
  • Butler pantries or broom closets
  • Wall ovens and microwaves
  • Ceiling fans
  • Tall windows
  • Arched doorways
  • Kitchen islands with vegetable sinks
  • Walk-in showers with clear glass doors
  • Stone tile bathroom floors
  • Granite bathroom counters
  • Dual vanity sinks
  • Walk-in bedroom closets
  • Carpeting in the bedrooms

It is not uncommon to find homes for sale in McDowell Mountain Ranch that also have enclosed backyards with high privacy fences made out of stone or brick. Some of these enclosed yards have in-ground swimming pools, as well as saunas or hot tubs.

Life outside of the homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch fall under the governance of the community’s homeowners association. Every homeowner in McDowell Mountain Ranch becomes an automatic HOA member when they close on their homes. They are required to pay quarterly dues to the HOA, which in turn are used to maintain and repair shared community areas and amenities.

To help homeowners in the community abide by the rules in McDowell Mountain Ranch, the HOA maintains a website to which they can refer. The HOA employs an onsite management company to oversee the daily function and safety of the community. The onsite management team consists of a:

  • General manager
  • Community standards administrator
  • Office administrator
  • Communications and activities director
  • Customer care representative
  • Website specialist

The management team works closely with the McDowell Mountain Ranch HOA’s nine-member board of directors. Members of the board of directors are members of the community and elected by other community homeowners to represent them in the HOA. The board of directors consists of a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, as well as five directors-at-large.

The HOA of McDowell Mountain Ranch provides tips for people who want to buy homes in the community on its website. These tips include how to get financing and what factors to look for in homes for sale in the community.

The website of the HOA also provides guidelines for real estate agents who represent sellers and show listings in the community. These guidelines include what HOA information must be made available to people who are interested in buying homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch.

The HOA website is also a portal of information about what things there are to do in the community itself. Homeowners can refer to the website to find dates for community events like car auctions, horse shows, rodeos, car races and local sports teams’ schedules. They can also find dates for special events like Friday art walks, swim parties and socials.

Finally, the McDowell Mountain Ranch HOA website is the place where homeowners can go to find a list of neighborhoods in the community. They can refer to this map to find in what neighborhood their own house is located when they move into the community. The HOA also makes available a list of local businesses, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, that are located in or near McDowell Mountain Ranch.

The McDowell Mountain Ranch HOA website is likewise the place where residents of the community can find out more about the available amenities. These amenities are open year round to people who are in good standing with the HOA. They include the McDowell Center, which can be reserved for special events like baby showers and birthday parties. It can also be leased out for workshops and business meetings.

The McDowell Mountain Ranch Community Center likewise offers a number of amenities to residents of all ages. These amenities include:

  • Two lap lanes that measure 23 meters apiece
  • A toddler pool
  • A hot tub
  • A tennis court
  • Six pickleball courts
  • Volleyball poles
  • Picnic ramadas with picnic tables
  • Two gas grills

The community’s recreation center offers even more amenities that residents can use in exchange for their HOA fees. The rec center amenities include:

  • A family swimming pool
  • A toddler pool
  • A covered play area
  • Two tennis courts
  • A splash pad
  • A basketball court
  • Three ramadas
  • Two gas grills

People who live in McDowell Mountain Ranch are just two minutes away from the Westworld Equestrian Center. They are also five minutes from the Gateway Trailhead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

The community sits just five minutes from the Loop 101, as well as the Ice Den skating and hockey rink. People who live in McDowell Mountain Ranch are seven minutes from the Scottsdale Municipal Airport and just 25 minutes from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport.

They are also just minutes from several major medical facilities. Both Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak and Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center are just six minutes from the community.

People who live in the community can likewise can play rounds of golf at the McDowell Mountain Golf Club. This club is open to the public and offers all of the upscale amenities and playing time of private golf courses. It also allows people to book playing and tee times entirely online on its website.

People can also visit the golf club to eat at its upscale Mesquite Grill. The grill offers traditional American favorites like burgers and chicken. It has a cozy and casual atmosphere that appeals to people who want to relax after a few rounds of golf.

People can also enjoy their favorite drinks at the club’s outdoor terrace bar. They can take their drinks out on the club’s patios and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and desert.

Parents who live in McDowell Mountain Ranch can send their children to the nearby public schools that operate as part of the Scottsdale Unified Public School District. This districts is one of the highest performing in the entire state. It consistently gets solid rankings for the quality of education that it offers to its students.

The schools that are closest to McDowell Mountain Ranch include Desert Canyon Elementary School and Desert Canyon Middle School. Older students can attend Desert Mountain High School.

The Scottsdale Unified School District has a student enrollment of just over 22,000. These students include those in preschool all the way through 12th grade. They are spread out among the district’s 20 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and six high schools.

Despite having a relatively large student body, the district has a manageable student-to-teacher ratio. For every one teacher in the district, there are 18 students. This ratio beats the national student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1.

The small student-to-teacher ratio could attest to the high academic standards by which the district abides. In fact, more than 60 percent of the district’s students meet state standardized test proficiency in critical subjects like mathematics and reading. They far outperform the national proficiency rate of 34 percent for mathematics and 35 percent for reading.

Likewise, the district boasts one of the highest high school graduation rates in the state. Ninety percent of high school seniors go on to graduate successfully. Those seniors who take the ACT test score an average of 28, which is considered to be an exceptional score that can garner hefty scholarships from colleges and universities.

In fact, a majority of students who graduate from the Scottsdale Unified School District go on to attend in-state universities like Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. The district is ranked as the fourth-best, out of 115 districts, in the state of Arizona.

It is also ranked fourth as having the best sports programs for student-athletes and seventh for having the best quality of teachers. Nationally, it gets a solid A grade for overall excellence.