In the beautiful Arizona desert lies Scottsdale , a city of dreams. Look for Scottsdale homes for sale and spend the rest of your life in paradise.

Scottsdale Homes for Sale

Scottsdale is like an oasis in the desert. Located in Maricopa County , Arizona , its population is 202,705 and continues to grow. The town is divided into three areas:

• Old Town Scottsdale, with many streets emulating the cowboy era, small shops, and even a stuntman gun show.
• The hip Scottsdale , a good weekend hang out with a fashion shopping center that includes such places as Scottsdale Fashion Square and many bars.
• Residential Scottsdale , a place where many show and movie producers, such as the makers of Silk Stalkings, Beverly Hills 90210, and Clueless, have come to shoot neighborhood scenes.
• There are 104,949 homes in Scottsdale of which 90,643 are occupied - 63,098 owner occupied, 27,545 renter occupied. The median household income is $57,484 and the median house value is $220,800. But although Scottsdale homes for sale are on the pricey side, you’ll get what you pay for.

Tee Time

Recently named "America's Best Place to Live for Golf" by the Robb Report, Scottsdale is home to nearly 200 area courses offering layouts that range from the rolling green fairways of traditional course architecture to the cactus-studded excitement of desert golf designs. Scottsdale also boasts more award-winning golf schools than nearly any other destination.

With so much to offer, it should come as no surprise that golf professionals have discovered Scottsdale as the perfect place to live and play. These current and former PGA and LPGA stars agree they have it all here- great weather, outstanding courses, plus an enviable lifestyle to enjoy when they are not out touring. Brandel Chamblee, Andrew Magee, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Lehrman, Aaron Baddeley, Bruce Devlin, Kirk Triplett, Billy Mayfair, Sean Murphy, Hale Irwin, Chez Arvidson, and Carin Koch are among the pros who call Scottsdale home.

Real Estate matters to consider when looking at Scottsdale homes for sale

Only about 1.7% of Realtors specialize in Scottsdale , Arizona real estate. Arizona is also one of a very few states that allow the agent to draft real estate contracts without having a law degree. Consider only working with an Associate Broker. He or she will understand the contract and all the contingencies better than a part time agent who only does a few deals per year.

Arizona does not use a formal sit down closing with buyers and sellers, their agents, bankers, and attorneys seated around a table who are interested in Arizona real estate, including Scottsdale homes for sale, as many other states do. Close of escrow is an informal process that requires all parties to work together to ensure a timely successful closing.

Closing Tips:

Be available. Time is often short at the closing table. Make sure you are prepared to take time from work or other commitments. Be ready to act on short notice.

Ensure that the escrow officer has all needed information. Provide the name and number of your lender and insurance agent, the source of your closing funds, your schedule, and phone number during the day so that the escrow officer may reach you, and any adjustments to the settlement costs as soon as possible.

Remember that the Title Company requires a Cashier's Check or Wired Funds for the closing of any Scottsdale homes for sale. Your funds must be immediately negotiable. Personal money market or investment broker's checks are not acceptable because they are all subject to collection holds and cannot be immediately converted to cash at the Title Company's bank.

Ask your realtor to be present at closing. Your escrow officer has no knowledge how the contract was negotiated, what representations were made by the lender, or other specifics beyond the terms printed in the purchase contract.

A good agent reviews the closing documents with you in advance. Trying to read and absorb the dozens of documents in your loan package at the signing can be time consuming. Ask any questions of your realtor, escrow officer, and lender. This is your transaction, make sure you understand everything involved with it.

Escrow is the deposit of documents and funds with a neutral third party with specific instructions as to how they should be disbursed. Escrow, or the services of a qualified escrow officer, assures all interested parties that the rules and regulations governing real property transfers will be strictly observed by a neutral third party with an objective interest in completing the transaction.

When shopping for Scottsdale homes for sale, some useful websites for your search are www.scottsdalehomeguide.com and www.scottsdalerealestateguide.com.

By Greg Hitchcock

A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®