Central Phoenix is an area that stretches from historic downtown Phoenix, northward through the center of Phoenix up to North Mountain. It is an area that many people moving to Phoenix chose to make their home. The Valley of the Sun (Phoenix metropolitan area) is very large, covering nearly 400 square miles. However, the city of Phoenix itself is divided into 15 sections or urban areas called villages. Each village has its own unique qualities. The Central Phoenix area includes five of these villages. The villages are North Mountain Village, Alhambra Village, Encanto Village, Camelback East Village, and Central Village.
Each of these villages offers an array of properties, from historic homes to new homes. The Central Phoenix area is unlike any of the other towns/cities on its outskirts. This part of Phoenix is more established, giving the Central Phoenix area less of a desert environment and more a city setting.
Many properties include grass lawns and citrus trees. The Central Phoenix area offers residents the convenience of downtown sporting events, galleries, and cultural events.
It is the perfect location for those who want to experience the friendly and relaxed southwest feeling, without living with a desert background.
Discover what developments are available or learn about the Phoenix villages that are included in the Central Phoenix area.
Central Phoenix
Living in the Central Phoenix area is great! This area is host to many restaurants, lots of shopping, theaters, museums, professional sporting events, and much more. The Central Phoenix area is a truly metropolitan city.
One of the best perks, when selecting the Central Phoenix area as the home is its location. Residents are literally in the center of everything. The Central Phoenix area sits inside a valley. Mountain ranges flank the Valley of the Sun on edges. To the south, South Mountain with the largest municipal parks in the United States, to the west, the White Tank Mountains with a natural waterfall flowing during the winter months, to the north, North Mountain and Piestewa Peak (Squaw Peak) Mountain both offering hikers wonderful trails, and to the east, Camelback Mountain a rock climber’s paradise with its red rock surface, the Central Phoenix area sits in the middle of it all.
Those arriving in the Valley of the Sun, you will soon discover that the Central Phoenix area is unique. Properties in this area are diverse. Newly constructed lofts or condominiums in the downtown Phoenix area have become very popular. There is also large acre sized properties with horse privileges and large estates that edge the main street in Phoenix, called Central Avenue. Tall palm trees and old trees line the wide streets in several historic areas, such as Palmcroft and Willo. There are also new home developments sprinkled throughout the city. There is something for everyone.
To look at homes in the Central Phoenix area, click here.
As you look around Phoenix, it is hard to imagine what life was like in 1867. It was in this year that Jack Swilling created a canal company. He began channeling water from the Salt River. This small beginning is how Phoenix received its name. The legendary Egyptian symbol of rebirth is the Phoenix bird rising from its own ashes. Travelers coming through Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Terminal 2 will see a spectacular mural of the Phoenix bird depicted in all its glory on the west wall in the main section of the terminal. From such small beginnings, this metropolitan city has grown. Today, Phoenix’s motto is “Vision, and values cascading into the future.”
The biggest draw to living in the Central Phoenix area is the proximity to many great restaurants, Bank One Ballpark (for Arizona Diamondback professional baseball games), America West Arena (for Phoenix Suns professional basketball, Arizona Rattlers professional arena football, and Phoenix Mercury women’s professional basketball games), Herberger Theater (for plays), Phoenix Symphony Hall, Dodge Theater (for concerts and performances), Orpheum Theater (for concerts and performances), Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Science Center, Phoenix Civic Center, the Convention Center and much, much more. You will find something is going on every day. As the sixth largest city in the United States, the Central Phoenix area is the heart.
To find out what properties are available in the Central Phoenix area, click here.
Climate
The climate is typical of the southwest. There is a mild winter that is balanced by a long hot, dry summer. Many have claimed that the dry, hot summer conditions have helped to relive many of their allergy symptoms.
Summer days are clear and spectacular and the temperatures are truly remarkable. Spring and autumn are mild transitions into the other seasons. There is a brief monsoon season that is truly extraordinary.
Central Phoenix Properties
Phoenix is the sixth largest city in the United States and Central Phoenix area is at the very core. It takes very little time to realize that no matter what your housing needs that the Phoenix home market is completely capable of meeting that need.
Properties in this area are diverse. Newly constructed lofts and condominiums are downtown and more and more units are becoming available every day to meet this growing demand.
There is also large acre sized properties with horse privileges and estates. Many of these are along the main street in Phoenix, called Central Avenue. Tall palm trees and old trees line the wide streets in several historic areas, such as Palmcroft and Willo.
There are also new home developments scattered throughout the city. There is something for everyone. To look at homes in the Central Phoenix area, click here.
So whether your needs are grand or modest, sophisticated or simple you can tie your horse to the hitching post and stop on in for a look what Phoenix living is like.
The Market
The spectacular amount of market activity in Arizona over the past decade has been well documented. People of all walks of life have been moving to Arizona, and particularly Phoenix, in numbers unmatched in recent memory.
Figures from 2000-2005 show nothing but increased construction, development, unit sales, and unit sales prices in virtually every category of structure offered on the market.
The greatest degree of growth occurred during fiscal 2005, where previous growth statistics, impressive in their own rights, spiked sharply to even higher levels.
Of particular note to the residential home seller/buyer was the record appreciation in new and resale home values. These rates were up for new homes and resale units, rentals, and condominium units, the only difference being one of degree.
While it is true that not all Phoenix area real estate markets showed the same amount of increase it is true that the degree of growth for each area was roughly proportional.
Then along came 2006 and equally well documented has been the decline in the rate of growth of some key market indicators. The greater Phoenix resale home market is showing marked decreases in sales figures for comparable periods last year across the valley and across most unit categories.
One interesting exception is the median price for resale units has increased slightly. This rising price accompanied by a decrease in sales seems to be more in keeping with normal market tendencies. One would expect spectacular growth to lead eventually to a degree of scarcity that would be reflected in higher prices. Could this indicate that the market has reached its peak?
Let’s look at another indicator to see what it may tell us.
Since 1985, the Arizona Real Estate Center has computed what it calls “affordability indexes” for the Greater Phoenix area and several nearby cities.
The index was invented as a guide to predict market activity. When the index value is 100, the typical home buyer (based on the current median resale price and household income) would be able to afford a median-priced home at the stated effective interest rate. A lower index value indicates less availability of affordable single-family homes.
The affordability index for the areas selected for study shows a significant reduction in the availability of that this type of housing within the means of the ordinary consumer.
Whether this data can be used as a reliable indicator for other groups and other types of housing is debatable, but it does beg the question “how much longer will the market be able to sustain a situation where both sellers and buyers can apparently benefit by getting involved in the market?
The short answer is that these conditions can remain so long as they are supported by the market.
So when we take a long look at the larger picture we must ask ourselves whether we can realistically expect to realize more potential gain or value now or at some time in the future and it is very reasonable to conclude that the best possible time to buy or sell Arizona really is now.
Central Phoenix Villages
Phoenix has been recognized as “One of the Best Managed Cities” in the United States. The city has been broken down into 14 neighborhoods or villages. There are five villages (urban areas) that are included in the Central Phoenix area. These villages are North Mountain Village, Alhambra Village, Encanto Village, Camelback East Village, and Central City Village. All of these villages are unique and have special characteristics.
Alhambra Village
Alhambra Village has a collection of homes built in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The village is known for its mature, single-family homes. Affordable housing can be found in this village. Most Alhambra Village residents enjoy the ability to take part in the downtown entertainment and employment opportunities. Northern Avenue to Seventh Street to Grand Canal to Black Canyon Freeway to Grand Avenue to 43rd Avenue are the boundaries of Alhambra Village. The village is north and west of Encanto Village, spanning both sides of Black Canyon Freeway.
Camelback East Village
Camelback East Village offers a variety of properties and neighborhoods. Most of the homes in the area were built between 1950 and 1970. This village has several notable local attractions that have made it a popular place to live. Children love the opportunity to go to nearby Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Gardens. Families enjoy taking in a spring training game at the Papago Baseball Facility located within Camelback East Village. However, two of the most popular attractions are Papago and Piestewa Peak (Squaw Peak) Mountain Parks. Each park draws visitors for a variety of reasons. Over 900 acres make up Papago Park. The park has an 18-hole golf course, fishing, and hiking. Piestewa Peak (Squaw Peak) Mountain Park has popular hiking trails and picnic ramadas. Three five-star resorts also lie within the boundaries of Camelback East Village. Golf course properties and resort style homes edge these high style resorts making Camelback East Village a great place to work and play. The borders of this village include the boundaries of both Paradise Valley and Scottsdale to 7th Street, Northern Avenue to North Mountain to Piestewa Peak (Squaw Peak) Park to Grand Canal and the Salt River.
Central City Village
Central City Village is a very special area of the city. The majority of the village is comprised of downtown Phoenix. It includes government buildings, local businesses, convention center, and cultural/sports facilities. Transportation is highlighted in this area. Sky Harbor International Airport, multiple freeway access points, and public transit are all found within Central City Village. One of the unique aspects of Central City Village is the numerous historic districts that are located within its boundaries. Because this village has the oldest neighborhoods in Phoenix distinctive vintage architecture can be found. Residents in Central City Village like the old fashion neighborhood concept, along with the accessibility to downtown Phoenix. The boundaries of this village are McDowell Road to Rio Salado and the Black Canyon Freeway to the Grand Canal and the Hohokam Expressway. It includes all of downtown Phoenix.
Encanto Village
High rise buildings and cultural facilities make up part of the Encanto Village. This area was named in honor of the local historic park, Encanto Park. The park covers over 200 acres and was inspired by the English garden theme that was popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Paddle boat rides, a small old-fashioned children’s amusement park, swimming pool, several fields, and public golf courses all makeup Encanto Park. Both commercial and residential high rise buildings edge Central Avenue which runs through Encanto Village. Although, some of Phoenix’s most unique homes are within the borders of Encanto Village. More historic home districts are found in Encanto Village, than any other village in Phoenix. Homes showcased in the Encanto Village reflect the charming Craftsman bungalow style and spacious haciendas. These districts are set against a backdrop of wide palm tree-lined streets and old-fashioned gas styled lights. Near the center of this village is Park Central Shopping Center, which was one of the first malls in Phoenix. Today, the shopping center has several restaurants and businesses making it a great retreat during a busy workday. The Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Theater, Burton Barr Central Library, and Cancer Survivors Park make up the cultural facilities. There is something going at one of these places all year long. Both commercial and residential high rise buildings edge Central Avenue which runs through Encanto Village. The boundaries of Encanto Village include Grand Canal to Black Canyon Highway to McDowell Road.