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Phoenix | Communities Home
Fast Facts    
Founded

1881

  
2007 Population 1,538,568
  
Size 517 Sq Mi.
  
Media Age 31.7  
     
MLS 1st Half 2009 Data:   Community Links
  • Average Home Sold: $116,807
  • Number sold: 11,246
  • Average days on market: 116
  

Interesting Information

Phoenix is currently the Sixth largest city in the United States, and it is only a matter of time before it becomes the 5th largest city!
Over 12 million visitors visit Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun every year. Phoenix is the Capital of Arizona, and the county seat.
Modern day Phoenix started as a small settlement in 1860 on the Salt River, however it wasn't until Jack Swilling formed a canal company in 1867 to divert water from the river to be used for irrigation that the real growth of the city started. Phoenix was incorporated in 1881.

   
Click on images to enlarge

The name Phoenix was chosen however because the city was built on the ruins of an earlier civilization, that
of the Hohokam Native Americans - who built canals here 1,000 years ago. The real boom in population started when air-conditioning became available just after WWII. Phoenix is also home to over 30 "Historic Districts", an Internation Airport, a growing downtown, and
many housing choices from condos, to Lofts, to single family homes. Major corporations with national headquarters in Phoenix include Cavco, PetSmart, Phelps Dodge, Viad, U-Haul and Swift.

While the first streetcar line was built in 1887, all the trolley's and their tracks were removed with the popularity of the automobile. However a new "light rail" system is now underway with the first track being laid in July 2005. Phoenix is home to the world's largest municipal park, covering 16,500 acres is South Mountain Park. Phoenix is comprised of 14 "Urban Villages", each with a citizens committee involvement in planning.  They are:

  • Ahwatukee Foothills
    • Separated from Phoenix by South Mountain
    • Established in 1971 as a retirement and family development.
    • Major new home developments of Mountain Park Ranch in 1985 and Foothills in 1988 became known as Ahwatukee Foothills in 1991.
    • A portion of Ahwatukee used to be used as International Harvesters proving grounds.
    • This area has almost 70,000 residents, with many of the homes backing to the mountain preserves.
    • Don't look for any Historic homes here, all homes have the "tile" roofs, and the growth has prompted large retail development along the freeway.
  • Alhambra Village
    • Village spans both sides of the I-17 Freeway, easy access.
    • Homes date from the 1920's to 1960's with some newer.
    • One square mile near the Alhambra core was named one of "Ten Just Right Urban Markets for Affordable Home
      Ownership" in the nation by Fannie Mae Foundation in 2000.
  • Camelback East Village
    • Located North and East of downtown Phoenix.
    • Squaw Peak, Camelback Mountain, and Papago Park are all located in this village. All three offer great hiking trails.
    • Some of Phoenix's best known neighborhoods are located here, Arizona Biltmore Area, and Arcadia.
    • Arcadia was a former citrus orchard just south of Camelback Mountain, now it is an upscale area of 1960's ranch homes.
    • One of the area's prime office markets is located along Camelback Road between 20th Street and 28th Streets.
    • The new Chinese Cultural Center is located just south of the I-10 Freeway.
  • Central City Village
    • Includes Downtown Phoenix, and Sky Harbor Airport.
    • New "loft" living projects are being built in the downtown area. The area includes the historic districts (or parts of) of
      Story and Roosevelt, and is also home to the Capitol Mall and the and the Garfield Redevelopment area.
    • The downtown Phoenix area has seen somewhat of a rebirth in the last 10-20 years with numerous new buildings,
      in fact 2.3 Billion dollars in new construction has taken place in the last 15 years!
  • Deer Valley Village
    • Home to Deer Valley airport, Turf Paradise Racetrack, and several high-tech companies.
    • Village has two freeways meeting in the middle of the village.
    • Great freeway access to almost anywhere in the valley.
    • Large shopping areas located at the freeways intersection in the middle of the village.
    • Don?t look for any historic homes in this village either, you will see mostly new homes in this village.
  • Desert View Village
    • Located in the northern portion of the City of Phoenix, about. 16 miles north of Downtown Phoenix.
    • This 65 square mile village still has open desert.
    • The largest residential development is Tatum Ranch.
    • The area to the west along Cave Creek Wash has large areas that are designated as a future sonoran preserve.
    • The Desert Ridge Specific Plan is in place to ensure development of a "unique community". This will create
      a desert living environment clustered around an "oasis destination resort" and a Village Center.
    • This plan includes about 5,723 acres of land.
    • The Village Center located at 101 Freeway and Tatum offers shops, entertainment, and food establishments.
  • Encanto Village
    • Located just north of downtown Phoenix (midtown).
    • Named for the 222-acre park located in the village that features a golf course and lagoon.
    • Home to most of Phoenix Historic Districts, Coronado, Willo, Encanto, Palmcroft, just to name a few.
    • The new Indian School Park is located just to the north of Indian School and 3rd St, and is named after the school located
      there that taught the Native Americans.
    • Area is also home to the Heard and Phoenix Art Museums, Phoenix Country Club, and Phoenix College.
    • Loft living, along with high-rise condo's can be found along Central Avenue.
  • Estrella Village
    • Located west and soutwest of downtown Phoenix, along the south portion of the I-10 Freeway.
    • Diverse Village, featuring older homes and industry in the eastern portion of the village, with brand new subdivisions and
      new Distribution Centers in the western portion of the village.
    • New Master Planned communities dominate the area between Buckeye and the Salt River, west of 59th Avenue.
    • This area is changing from farming and dairy farms to new homes and schools/parks to accommodate growth in the region.
    • The area north of Buckeye Road is almost all Industrial or Commercial.
    • A new 400-acre Village Center is in the planning, which will bring shops, entertainment, offices to this area in the future.
  • Laveen Village
    • Mostly farming and horse farms, however it is now home to a growing number of new home developments.
    • The Village is planning a town center, called Laveen Watercourse, which will include not only shops, entertainment,
      and restaurants, but also a trail system, water channels, ponds, fountains, and activity areas for residents to gather.
  • Maryvale Village
    • Located west and south of Alhambra Village. Developed by John F. Long 40 years ago as entry-level housing, and named after John's wife.
    • The areas west of 83rd Avenue however feature mostly new home subdivisions, with a newer mall, Desert Sky
      at 75th Avenue.
    • Home to Cricket Pavilion (outdoor amphitheater), and the Maryvale Stadium (7,000 seat home of Cactus League).
  • North Gateway Village
    • Located at the northern portion of the City of Phoenix.
    • This Village is in the process of changing from desert to housing developments, along with an employment corridor
      along I-17 Freeway (Black Canyon).
    • The northern tip of the village includes the areas just to the west of the new Anthem Development, which will bring
      50,000 new residents to that area.
  • North Mountain Village
    • Home to MetroCenter, a major mall.
    • Mostly moderately priced single family homes built between 1960's and 1980's, however Moon Valley, and Lookout
      Mountain areas have much higher priced homes, with fantastic views from their mountain side locations.
    • North Mountain Preserve is located in the middle of the village, and provides some great hiking trails.
    • Village is also home to the Royal Palms Neighborhood, which was settled in 1880's.
    • When the Arizona Canal was completed in 1885 agriculture became the major occupation in this area, in fact the Diller family developed the "Diller orange", which is now known as one of the Arizona Sweets.
    • Royal Palms is located between Dunlap and Northern, and 7th Ave to 19th Avenue.
  • Paradise Valley Village
    • Not to be confused with the town of Paradise Valley, this is an Urban Village area of Phoenix.
    • This Village is mostly middle class, with the 51 Freeway cutting thru in North-South. However some of the homes closer to
      Scottsdale on the east side of the Village can be very pricey.
    • Most homes in this area are 10-20 years old.
  • South Mountain Village
    • Located south of Downtown Phoenix and Sky Harbor Airport.
    • Area was once home to citrus orchards and commercial flower growers.
    • Today it is an area in transition, with new home developments sprouting up everywhere. The homes tend to get more expensive the closer to South Mountain you get (I.e. the more expensive new developments are located south of Baseline Road.).
    • The area is home to the new Legacy Golf Resort, along with two other Golf courses.
2009 Updated Real Estate info for this city:

 
The pictures and renderings in this website are examples of local style and architecture only in order to give prospective buyers an idea of what our area looks and feels like. Most of the pictures or write ups do not constitute an offer to sell the particular properties, nor does their inclusion on this site infer that I have a legal agreement to sell or market those properties. My "listed" properties are on the local MLS and on REALTOR.com.