November’s Priciest Home

If you’ve been following the areas priciest homes this past year, many have incorporated the Tuscan or Spanish influence and overlook the valley in far North Scottsdale.  As we round the final stretch for the year, November’s priciest home takes us back to Paradise Valley – and, it’s as far from traditional as can be.

Perched in the heart of PV between the Biltmore and Scottsdale gives November’s priciest home at

5937 N. La Colina Drive

prime billing when it comes to location.  Simple clean lines give way to some of the valley’s most spectacular views in this modern contemporary home.  Turns out the architect who designed this beauty was Charles Schiffner, son-in-law of Frank Lloyd Wright.  The home was marketed and sold by auction, with no reserve.

Closing at just over $450 a square foot, buyers Garel and Karen Westall of Carlsbad, NM came in with the highest bid.  This modern gem spans 9,500 square feet and features 4 bedrooms, 5 ½ baths including the gymnasium-sized steam shower in the master, a home theatre, a sleek and fully equipped studio/guest house and a spit-shined 4-car garage.  The home sold for $4,345,000 in the all-cash transaction.

Master sitting area.

Home theatre.

Here’s the details:

Listed September 1, 2011.  Auctioned October 20, 2011. Closed November 10, 2011.

Total days on the market was 45 days.

Original list price was $5,000,000.  Final sales price was $4,345,000.

Sales price per square foot: $456.26.

Photos courtesy of ARMLS.

September’s Priciest Home

10777 E. Distant Hills Drive, Scottsdale

Although the luxury market continues to be sluggish throughout the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, Stephen D. Tuttle did what he could to spur the real estate market on.  He put his name on the title to 10777 E. Distant Hills Drive.  The residence located in North Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain estate is September’s priciest home sale with a sales price of $4,200,000.

Perched high on the Lost Star hillside, this custom built estate boasts 5 bedrooms, 6 ½ baths on nearly an acre of picturesque Sonoran desert.  The main home offers 7,330 square feet and is dressed in rich woods, iron detailing, and natural stone.  The separate guest house accommodates a richly appointed living room with an additional guest suite.

I'm sure any caterer will appreciate this kitchen.

The open floor plan of this Desert Mountain beauty was designed to maximize the desert vistas, enormous windows to the absolutely stunning views beyond.  The home features a great room concept ideal for entertaining, a climate controlled wine room, game room, mosaic lined pool, 7 car garage, and even an elevator.  It was built in 2010 by luxury home builder, Paul Lovato for Lance and Lori Mortensen but reportedly, they never lived there – rather, “had a change of plans”.

Just imagine soaking in that hot tub!

Views of the Desert Mountain golf course from Tuttle's new home.

Here’s the details on Tuttle’s new digs:

Listed December 20, 2010.  Closed September 15, 2011.

Total days on the market was 250 days.

Original list price was $4,975,000.  Final sales price was $4,200,000.

Sales price per square foot: $572.91

Distressed Luxury at the Arizona Biltmore

I blogged last week about a gargantuan bank-owned Paradise Valley home with exquisite details inside and out.  His and hers everything.  And a garage to handle your 21 automobiles.  It might surprise you to know, REO’s in the luxury segment are not that uncommon.  Bank owned properties are becoming more and more prevalent in the ultra-luxury residential market.

Last week’s home was priced at $15,995,000 – that’s about $640 a square foot.  Probably well under the builder cost considering the details and amenities.  If you thought that was a bargain, wait ‘til you see this mind-boggler REO gem: 

Just off of Camelback Road sits the venerable Arizona Biltmore Resort.  A destination that has long been a haven to the rich and famous – both seasonal residents with second homes and those that call their Biltmore estate a primary residence.  Visitors would arrive – and still do – from around the world to this sprawling resort to thaw, relax and bask in the desert sun since the 1930’s. 

The meandering drive leading to the hotel can take your breath away.  It is lined with truly sterling properties with manicured lawns, impeccably trimmed privet, flowering perennials and rich canterra doorways to welcome their visitors.  One such home is now being offered as a bank owned REO – 41 E. Biltmore Estates.

Situated on the Biltmore course, this custom estate sits on over an acre with stellar views from every direction.  Built in 2002, the 17,800 square foot home features nine bedrooms for when the hotel is sold out, 11 baths, wine room, library, entertaining spaces galore, four-car garage and flawless rear grounds.  Meticulous attention to the details abound, amazing fixtures, state of the art features, and imported facets. 

Truly a great buy for the value minded, priced at $6,950,000, 41 E. Biltmore Estates is being offered for a mere $390 a square foot.  Builder’s cost on this desert jewel is likely to be more than double that. 

Entry at 41 E. Biltmore Estates

Library.

My kind of kitchen.

Master Bedroom

With 9 beds, guess you need this double sized laundry room!

Now, I’d say that’s a five-star residence!

Photos courtesy of ARMLS.

August’s Priciest Home

It’s hard to believe another month has past us by, and while most of you are packing up the station wagon and piling the kids in the back seat to head out of town, I’m going through the stack of closings from August.  It was fun to see the valley had some 50 homes that sold for an amount north of a million dollars this last month.  The winner of the valley’s most extravagant sale goes to a home in Scottsdale's exclusive Silverleaf, that swanking ‘hood at the base of the McDowell Mountains in DC Ranch with a sales price of $3,875,000. 

The custom estate was built in 2005 and sits in the Upper Canyon high above the valley on over 2 acres with breathtaking views from every direction.  The 7,182 square foot home includes 6 bedrooms, 6 ½ baths, a generously-sized guest house, 4-car garage, exquisite details such as Venetian plaster, stone, and hand scraped wooden floors, the requisite wine cooler that accommodates 1,000+ bottles to compliment the pizza you pull out of the Renato pizza oven.

A great open floor plan, terrific entertaining spaces inside and out, plus exceptional attention to detail is abundant throughout.  It’s easy to see why this home didn’t take long to sell. 

Here’s the details:

Listed June 9, 2011.  Closed August 31, 2011.

Total days on the market was 65 days.

Original list price was $4,795,000.  Final sales price was $3,875,000 – All cash.

Sales price per square foot: $539.54.

The home was originally purchased in January of 2005 for $4,550,000.

Photos courtesy of ARMLS

July’s Priciest Home

As I turn the calendar towards a new month, I always review the Phoenix area real estate market data and statistics from the previous month.  In July, 2011, the Phoenix area had approximately 3,100 single family home closings in the month, according to ARMLS data, with the priciest home selling for a mere $2,750,000. 

It’s always fun to keep tabs on the luxury market and the area’s more significant homes.  Here’s what one lucky buyer ended up with in July: This 8,091 square foot home was custom built in 2006 and is located in Paradise Valley.  The property sits on nearly two manicured acres of lush grass and tropical landscape overlooking the Camelback Golf Course and features 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, a wine room, theatre, game room and exercise studio, heated pool and spa, plus a number of other features. 

Here’s the details:

Listed November 29, 2007.  Closed July 15, 2011.

Total days on the market was 1,318 days

Original list price was $4,750,000.  Final sales price was $2,750,000

Sales price per square foot: $339.88.

The home was originally purchased in April of 2007 for $4,250,000. 

Photos courtesy of ARMLS.