16391 N 109th Street, Scottsdale
(602) 483-4665
DeLex Realty
McDowell Mountain Ranch is a master-planned community in North Scottsdale, ZIP 85255, north of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and east of Thompson Peak Parkway, a short drive from Loop 101. It has about 4,000 homes, from townhomes and condos to large single-family homes, built mostly from the late 1990s to 2003, and it sits right next to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
Locals usually just call it MMR. It is one of the most active communities in North Scottsdale, with its own private community centers and pools, a city aquatic center and park on Thompson Peak Parkway, a public golf course and preserve trails at the edge of the neighborhood. Here is what I want you to know before you tour.
See all McDowell Mountain Ranch homes for saleCall Terry: 602-483-4665
The community association's own directions say it best: take Loop 101 to the Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard exit, head east to Thompson Peak Parkway, then north to McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. The McDowell Mountains rise along the east side, and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve borders the community. From here, the Scottsdale Airpark, Kierland, Scottsdale Quarter and the Shea Boulevard corridor are all a short drive, and Loop 101 connects you to the rest of the Valley.
Newhall Land and Farming started McDowell Mountain Ranch, and home sales began in 1995 with several builders and model complexes, according to a resident-run history site. Haas Haynie and Sunbelt Holdings took over the community in 1996, and it sold out in 2003. That history site also says about 900 acres of the original ranch went to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
Today there are about 4,000 homes in more than 20 neighborhoods. Builders you will see in listings and history include Engle Homes, Shea Homes, Geoffrey H. Edmunds and Woodside Homes. Homes range from townhomes and condos to large single-family homes with mountain views. Sonoran Fairways, a Shea neighborhood of just over 100 homes, is guard-gated, and a few other sections have gates.
Residents have private community facilities, including the Community Center on Paradise Lane and the McDowell Center, with pools and hot tubs, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, playgrounds and splash pads. The City of Scottsdale runs McDowell Mountain Ranch Park and Aquatic and Fitness Center at 15525 N. Thompson Peak Parkway, which opened in 2007 and has a 13-lane pool, diving boards, a lazy river, a skatepark and a fitness center. McDowell Mountain Golf Club, a public course designed by Randy Heckenkemper, is inside the community. For hiking, the preserve's Gateway Trailhead is at 18333 N. Thompson Peak Parkway.
McDowell Mountain Ranch is in Scottsdale Unified School District. Desert Canyon Elementary and Desert Canyon Middle School share a campus on McDowell Mountain Ranch Road inside the community, and listings name Desert Mountain High School for most homes. Please confirm the assigned schools for a specific address with the district.
The community association runs the private amenities and is managed by AAM, with an on-site general manager and lifestyle director, neighborhood patrol and a design review committee. Some neighborhoods also have their own sub-association, so a home may pay more than one HOA. Ask for every association's rules and resale documents early.
MMR is built out, so homes for sale are resales from the late 1990s and early 2000s. When you tour, I look at roof and air conditioning age, whether the home backs to the golf course, a wash or a street, and which neighborhood association it belongs to. If you want to lower your monthly costs, ask me whether the seller has a loan you could take over; my assumable mortgage guide explains how. New to Arizona? Start with first steps to buying a home in Arizona.
Buyers here compare neighborhood, view, lot and updates, so your price should come from sales in your own section of MMR. I will pull those numbers and walk you through a plan. Read my North Scottsdale home values seller guide and how to price your Arizona home to sell, then call me.
Is McDowell Mountain Ranch gated?
Mostly no. The community is open, but a few neighborhoods are gated, including guard-gated Sonoran Fairways.
What schools serve McDowell Mountain Ranch?
Most homes are in Scottsdale Unified, with Desert Canyon Elementary and Desert Canyon Middle inside the community and Desert Mountain High School for high school. Confirm by address with the district.
Is there a pool in McDowell Mountain Ranch?
Yes. Residents have private HOA pools and hot tubs, and the city's McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic and Fitness Center is on Thompson Peak Parkway.
Can you hike from McDowell Mountain Ranch?
Yes. The community borders the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and the Gateway Trailhead on Thompson Peak Parkway is close by.
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Community details come from public sources and can change. Confirm HOA, golf, gate and school information for a specific home before you buy.
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