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"Let me put you in
your place"
Bette Zerba GRI, Realtor
Email
602-791-1766
fax: 623-388-3984
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Arizona Real Estate
Southeast Phoenix-
Phoenix Golf
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Exploring the Arizona Housing Market
Phoenix is Valley's core
Phoenix, the sixth largest city in the nation, is a major tourist
destination as well as the business center of Arizona. The city is
filled with diversity, culture, sports, outdoor recreation, premier
shopping and dining, and some of the most renowned resorts in the
world.
The city of Phoenix is a large metropolitan area that is broken down
into specific areas. Each area contains "villages" or urban areas,
each with its own distinct attributes.
Central Phoenix
As the urban center for the entire
city, Central Phoenix is the political, business and cultural focal
point of the expanding metropolitan region.
Downtown is the core of Central
Phoenix. Here, the state's tallest buildings and professional sports
stadiums can be found, as well as a multitude of arts and
performance venues. The area also is the seat of county and city
governments, with the state Capitol nearby.
Alhambra Village includes the
area north and west of Encanto Village, spanning both sides of Black
Canyon Freeway. Residents of this area are especially able to take
advantage of downtown employment, as well as cultural and
entertainment venues and affordable housing. The village is
characterized by mature, single-family-home neighborhoods. The
historic district boasts a collection of well-preserved homes built
primarily in the 1920s and 1930s.
Central City Village is a
government and employment center; a transportation hub including
freeways, public transit and Sky Harbor International Airport; and
an exciting cultural, recreational and convention center. Central
City Village spans an area from the Salt River to McDowell Road, and
from 48th Street to the Black Canyon Freeway. This area includes all
of downtown Phoenix.
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Situated just north of downtown,
Encanto Village is named for
Encanto Park, a 222-acre historic park. The park's design was
inspired by English gardens that were popular in the 1920s and 30s.
Encanto is home to most of Phoenix's designated historic districts.
Unique homes range from Craftsman-style bungalows to spacious
haciendas found on palm-tree lined streets. Also known as uptown
Phoenix, the area contains a portion of the Central Avenue Corridor
where commercial, high-rise office and high-rise residential
development co-exist. Encanto Village contains some of the Valley's
high-profile cultural venues. The Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum
and the Phoenix Theater are in this area, as are the Burton Barr
Central Library and the Cancer Survivors Park.
North Phoenix
Driving on Interstate 17 down the hill
from Flagstaff, first-time travelers to Phoenix enter the North
Valley through a gateway of beautiful saguaro cactus. North Phoenix
encompasses more than 242 square miles. The area has become
diversified in recent years, and as new business moves into the
area, the employment base is increasing, which is driving the
housing market.
Named for Indian petroglyphs of deer found in the area,
Deer Valley Village is dynamic
in its growth and potential. A balance of single-family detached
homes and business/retail development is attracting many residents
to this area. The Deer Valley Unified School District is one of the
state's largest and most progressive. The district employs
approximately 2,500 people and enrollment is more than 25,000
students.
The city of Phoenix has taken an ecological approach to the
development of Desert View Village.
This area is distinguished by its lush Sonoran Desert, including the
major features of Cave Creek Wash, Union Hills and an unnamed
mountain range. While Desert View Village is home to more than
25,000 residents, it maintains an extensive system of trails, both
in washes and along roadways, to provide a village-wide recreational
circulation system.
The North Gateway Village is
more about the future than the present. This northern Phoenix
village, which was established in 1997, is more about managing the
development of an area that will one day be home to as many as
150,000 residents and fostering managed growth along Interstate 17
by balancing employment, housing and desert conservation.
While its namesake would suggest an unearthly environment,
Moon Valley is as down to earth
as they come. This comfortable, upscale neighborhood in North
Phoenix is home to more than 10,000 residents. Moon Valley is a
quiet community best known for its golf. The neighborhood was built
around Moon Valley Country Club, site of the Ladies Professional
Golf Association Tour PING Banner Health tournament.
Variety would be the best way to describe
North Mountain Village. The village is surrounded by a
wide variety of neighborhoods, including the affluent Moon Valley
and the more middle-class Sunnyslope neighborhoods. Major features
of the North Mountain Village include the Phoenix Mountain Preserve,
Cave Creek Recreational Area and Arizona State University West
campus.
Don't confuse Paradise Valley Village
with the town of Paradise Valley. While it borders the city, the
area couldn't be more different. The main core of Paradise Valley
Village includes Paradise Valley Mall and surrounding businesses.
This area provides a successful blend of shopping, housing and
employment. The surrounding Phoenix Mountains Preserve system
provides area residents with biking, equestrian and hiking trails.
Sunnyslope is one of the
Valley's oldest neighborhoods. This North Phoenix community boasts
many third-generation families. Sunnyslope once drew a great number
of people from out-of-state, who came to the Valley to benefit from
its dry climate. It was once was home to a sanatorium that
specialized in tuberculosis and other lung ailments. The sanatorium
is no longer there, but Sunnyslope continues to be a cozy, mature
neighborhood. Mountain view lots in Sunnyslope remain the most
affordable around.
South Phoenix
South Phoenix is a land of contrasts.
It's a place of beauty where the trails of South Mountain Park snake
through the land, a place of intrigue where Mystery Castle awaits to
divulge its secrets, and a place of foresight where the Rio Salado
riverbed will one day be transformed into a water-themed park. South
Phoenix is home to South Mountain Park, the world's largest
municipal park. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians traverse its
more than 58 miles of trails covering 16,500 acres. If fall and
winter rains are ample, the park is transformed into a sea of
blooming poppies and lupine.
Ahwatukee Foothills in the
southern portion of the Valley represents the booming growth in
planned residential communities in Arizona. The word "Ahwatukee"
(ah-wa-too-kee) means "house of dreams" in the Native American
language of the Crow tribe. Ahwatukee Foothills is known for its
family atmosphere, picturesque setting and a range of housing
options from senior living to townhomes. Many upscale homes are
built close to South Mountain Park within the foothills.
Laveen is on the cusp of a
population boom as development moves to the West. Long an
agricultural community growing crops such as cotton and alfalfa,
Laveen is increasingly sought out by those who appreciate the small
town atmosphere and convenience of living next to a big city. Laveen
dates to the 1880s, and the Laveen School District was established
in 1908. The town is named for the first postmaster, Walter Laveen.
People who come to Guadalupe may
think they've suddenly been transported to Mexico. The town's
population is mostly Hispanic, bringing with it tasty Mexican
restaurants, markets selling brightly-colored wares and fresh fruit
and vegetables at roadside stands. The town is named for the Virgin
of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. Its main shopping center
is the El Tianguis Mercado, where colorful items from Mexico may be
found.
South Mountain Village is noted
for its diversity. This area of town supports a large population of
Hispanics, Anglos and African-Americans. Lifestyles are equally
diverse, with farms to the west, industry to the north, and numerous
residential and recreational areas scattered throughout. The area
has become a residential "hot spot" in recent years with homes near
South Mountain Park becoming increasingly popular. Homeowners not
only have easy access to the park, but also have some of the best
views of the Valley from their windows. Proximity to downtown
Phoenix is an advantage here as well.
East Phoenix
Majestic Camelback Mountain and Squaw
Peak help define this established area of Phoenix where the
landscaping is mature and the houses a bit older (by Phoenix
standards anyway), many dating from the '50s, '60s and '70s.
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Sophisticated
Camelback Corridor is another East Phoenix point of
pride. The corridor is lined with sleek retail and commercial
enterprises that include the Ritz-Carlton hotel, the Arizona
Biltmore Resort and Spa, and Biltmore Fashion Park. This part of the
city also boasts such stellar attractions as the Phoenix Zoo, the
Desert Botanical Garden and Papago Park.
Arcadia, which means a pastoral,
peaceful place, is known for its houses on large grass lots, many
with citrus trees. When the trees blossom in March, the fragrance is
heavenly. The area originally was planned in 1919, and it was
mandated that no home could be built for less than $5,000. The
oldest home in Arcadia is at 5005 E. Camelback Rd., and now serves
as the Shemer Art Center. With its Spanish Colonial Revival
architecture, the center blends nicely with the Monterey revivals
and pueblo-style homes built in the late 1920s and early '30s.
You can consider yourself a true Phoenician with one simple deed - a
hike up Squaw Peak. The famous landmark in
Camelback East Village offers an awesome Valley vista if
you're tough enough to reach the top. For more outdoor fun, on the
east border of Camelback East Village is the 914-acre Papago Park,
where you can hike, bike, fish and picnic. A reminder of the area's
ancient beginnings is the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological
Park, site of an 800-year-old Hohokam Indian ruin.
West Phoenix
West Phoenix is well known for its
diversity and multicultural influences. But perhaps no area of the
Valley is seeing more growth than here. Affordable new housing,
close proximity and easy access to downtown, and dozens of new
developments to choose from are fueling interest in West Phoenix.
There will be more than 5,000 new homes in West Phoenix in the next
two years.
And there's plenty for all these new residents to do including Major
League Baseball's Cactus League play at Maryvale Baseball Park and
live entertainment by top name entertainment at the Cricket
Pavilion. The amphitheater plays host to some of names in live
entertainment, attracting a half million fans each year.
Estrella Village is quietly
becoming one of the Valley's growth areas. Mixed among older
neighborhoods of single-family homes are large tracts of undeveloped
land. The area also contains extensive industrial activity that may
one day give way to new subdivisions and recreation opportunities.
City of Phoenix officials project that Estrella Village will balloon
from its current population to more than 100,000 in the next 15
years.
Maryvale Village is a diverse
mix of old, comfortable neighborhoods from the beginning of the
post-war era to booming new, affordable developments that are
attracting new families. The largest business core of Maryvale
Village is Desert Sky Marketplace, which includes Desert Sky Mall
and Desert Sky Esplanade. Maryvale also includes the metropolitan
area's largest outdoor entertainment facility, Cricket Pavilion. In
the spring, baseball fans flock to Maryvale, the spring training
home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Each area of Phoenix contains "villages" or urban areas, each with
its own distinct attributes
Visit AZCentral for the latest information on Phoenix
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