AZ
Cave Creek Neighborhoods, From Horse Property to Golf Course Homes
Acreage, horse properties and master-planned golf communities north of Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Library of Congress
Living in Cave Creek
Cave Creek neighborhoods feel different from the rest of the North Valley, and that’s the point. The town kept its ranching and mining roots, and downtown along Cave Creek Road still has a Western character. Homes range from custom acreage with horse privileges and private wells to master-planned golf communities.
The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, about 2,154 acres of desert with trails along Cave Creek itself, sits at the north end of town. Cave Creek Unified serves the area, along with Carefree and north Scottsdale, and Cactus Shadows is its one high school.
Talk with me about Cave Creek
How I serve Cave Creek buyers and sellers
I’m Valerie Moe, with Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living. In Cave Creek, more than in most places, value depends on things a listing photo can’t show: the land, the well, the horse privileges, the views and the privacy.
That’s why I walk through a property before I talk about its price, and why I explain the details that matter to buyers here, from lot size and zoning to water and access. Twenty years of experience, including sales up to $20 million, taught me that unusual properties need careful pricing and marketing aimed at the buyers who want exactly what they offer.
Selling in Cave Creek? See selling a home in Cave Creek. Buying? Start with buying a home in Cave Creek.
Cave Creek neighborhoods and communities I work in
Lone Mountain is the land-and-privacy end of Cave Creek: larger custom equestrian estates, horse privileges and private wells, on the north side of town toward the Tonto National Forest boundary.
Tatum Ranch is the oldest community here and the most accessible entry point at scale, with about 1,500 acres and more than 30 sub-neighborhoods. Dove Valley Ranch is built around a public Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course and is known for strong dark-sky preservation. Both share the 85331 zip with Lone Mountain.
Rancho Mañana is a smaller community in the foothills around the public Rancho Mañana Golf Club, just down Cave Creek Road from downtown. Sonoran Trails is a newer gated Toll Brothers community with single-level estates on lots of 15,000+ square feet.
Cave Creek housing market and home types
Cave Creek offers some of the widest variety in the North Valley. Based on my recent market review, approximate ranges look like this, and they shift over time:
- Lone Mountain: about $900K to $4M+ for custom acreage
- Sonoran Trails: about $1.45M to $2.6M for newer gated single-level estates
- Rancho Mañana: about $675K to $2.2M, including lock-and-leave homes
- Tatum Ranch: about $650K to $1.5M
- Dove Valley Ranch: about $550K to $1.6M
On acreage and horse property, details like wells, septic, zoning and access affect both value and financing, so we review them early. If you’re weighing a move to less house, see downsizing in Cave Creek.
Cave Creek lifestyle and getting around
Life in Cave Creek runs at a slower pace than Scottsdale, with downtown’s restaurants and shops on Cave Creek Road and miles of trail at Spur Cross Ranch. The trade-off is distance: most errands and commutes into Phoenix or Scottsdale take longer from here.
If you’re moving in from out of state, I’ll help you compare Cave Creek against nearby north Scottsdale and Anthem on the things that matter to you. See relocating to Cave Creek.
Ready to talk about Cave Creek? Contact me, or return to the home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which school district serves Cave Creek?
Cave Creek Unified serves Cave Creek, along with Carefree and north Scottsdale. Cactus Shadows is its one high school. Confirm the assigned schools for any address with the district.
Where can I find horse property in Cave Creek?
Lone Mountain is the area most known for custom equestrian estates with horse privileges and private wells, on the north side of town.
What should I check when buying acreage in Cave Creek?
Wells, septic, zoning and access affect both value and financing. We review them early, before you’re committed.
Buying in Cave Creek
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Ready to make your move with Valerie Moe?