Arcadia Proper
Arcadia is a neighborhood bordering Old Town Scottsdale, at the southern base of Camelback Mountain just south of Camelback Road. Sky Harbor Airport and downtown Phoenix are only 15 minutes away. The neighborhood has a rich
history dating back to the early 1900s, popular for citrus, irrigation and proximity to the canal. Arcadia is popular with families who enjoy large homes and over-sized lush green yards. A long list of well known celebrities, politicians and business leaders have resided here, including Alice Cooper and Glen Campbell (By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Rhinestone Cowboy). Well known Arcadia High School graduates include Steven Spielberg and Lynda Carter.
Strollers, hikers and cyclists fill the shady streets, many heading to the nearby Arcadia canal to the Fashion Square Mall, Shops on Stetson or west to the Biltmore Resort. There are very few homeowner's associations (HOAs) in Arcadia. The schools have long wait lists and high parent involvement.
When I lived in the heart of Arcadia Scottsdale in the early 1990s, I moved there for the the convenience to Old Town and the Fashion Square Mall, as well as the neighborhood front porch feel and the proximity to the Arizona Canal.
Prices
Arcadia is a neighborhood that lies in Scottsdale (85251) and Phoenix (85018). Because it is not its own town or zipcode, calculating statistics requires manual effort.
Vacant land on the prestigious Exeter Blvd can sell for $4 Million and then be scraped.
The median listing home price in Arcadia is around $4 Million in Arcadia proper, with many of the original ranch style homes commanding a huge price tag. Arcadia has been in its own market bubble for over a decade, outpacing the local housing market so significantly that statisticians must manually exclude it when discussing housing trends.
Arcadia Lite
As a result of the popularity of Arcadia, its adjacent neighborhoods south of Lafayette and west of 44th Street are now referred to as Arcadia Lite. New hip restaurant concepts have opened throughout the area and along the canal, creating a trendy andwalkable subburb of Arcadia and Old Town Scottsdale. This area attracts young professionals looking to be in the Arcadia area at a slightly lower price point, with higher urban density. Views of Camelback Mountain are key to property valuations.
Proximity
Many residents belong to the fabulous and family-friendly Arizona Country Club, south of Indian School Rd. and home to the original Phoenix Open PGA Golf Tournament. Just north of Camelback Road is the Phoenician Resort which is known for its golf course, fabulous happy hour, restaurants and a pool & fitness membership package popular with the locals in the summer months. Nearby is the Camelback "Cholla" hiking trailhead. At Scottsdale and Camelback Roads is Scottsdale Fashion Square with extremely popular restaurants, shops, movies and the highest level LifeTime Fitness with lap pool on the roof. Just south is the infamous Old Town Scottsdale with restaurants, shops, museums, Art Galleries, Farmer's Market, Night clubs, events along the canal, the Performing Arts Center and Spring Training, plus much more. The restaurants, hotels and events continue to the West along Camelback Road. At 44th Street are the popular Steak 44 and Henry Restaurants, the Village Health Club, AJ's gourmet groceries, boutique shops, and the new $45 million NBA Champion Phoenix Suns practice facility and adjacent Global Ambassador. Nearby Farmer's Markets include Old Town Scottsdale, and in Phoenix at 40th & Camelback Roads.
Here on Exeter nearest Old Town Scottsdale, is a 4,000 square foot home I sold in 2022, located at 68th St & EXETER, that I helped my clients purchase just two years earlier as a new build. They enjoyed nearly 100% profit on their investment when it sold at around $4M. Today that would be at least 50% more. The advantage to this side of Arcadia is that my clients were able to walk to restaurants in Old Town in 3 minutes or less. Here on Arcadia's most prestigious street, EXETER Blvd, most of the original homes have evolved into spectacular mansions, and it is not uncommon to see a 1950 ranch home next to a new $20 million dollar new-build.
MORE INFORMATION:
Denise van den Bossche (www.Exec-Elite.com) has been a career Real Estate professional in the Phoenix - Scottsdale Valley since 1982, participating in the Phoenix Valley’s growth from a population of 1.5M to the current 4.5 million. She knows the communities, neighborhoods, builders, architects and the market cycles and can be reached at 602-980-0737. Denise was #1 Top Solo Agent for Realty Executives in Maricopa County in 2022 and #2 Worldwide.
