Dave Panozzo is the co-founding owner of The Panozzo Team-HomeSmart, a real estate team in Phoenix, Arizona.

Arizona is known for many things — namely its desert climate and stunning natural features. As a top travel destination, it's not surprising that many tourists ultimately decide to make Arizona their home. Having lived in Scottsdale, located just outside of Phoenix, since 1994 and being a licensed real estate agent, I've seen all the city has to offer home buyers. The Scottsdale real estate market has been blessed enough to continue to thrive during the chaos of Covid, and it looks like the market is going to continue to stay strong in the near future. If you're considering a move to the area, here are the top five reasons to move to Scottsdale, Arizona.

1. Cost Of Living

As a real estate agent in Scottsdale, I speak firsthand when I say many people are flocking to the area from all over the country. Maricopa County consists of 43 cities, including Scottsdale, and the average sales price for homes is approximately $530,000 making it relatively more affordable compared to coastal areas. In fact, at the time of this writing, the total supply of properties is not enough to meet the demand.

As the demand for Arizona homes increases, people are moving here really to experience the lifestyle. What this means for home buyers is home value in Scottsdale right now is as low as it will ever be and will continue to rise in value every year. If you are looking for a home in the area, now would be the best time to get in contact with a local real estate agent who can find you a home that will exceed your expectations without stretching your wallet.

2. Activities For Everyone

It's no wonder why Scottsdale was voted the No. 1 city for raising a family in America in 2014 because of its safety and outdoor activities. There are tons of public parks and recreational areas to hike, bike and swim. Scottsdale is home to many lakes known for great waterskiing, fishing and family fun at nearby gazebos. If you're looking for a high-end place to hang out and catch some sunshine there are amazing resorts with luxury pools and spas. After taking a dip on a sunny day, catch a bite to eat during sunset at one of the many outdoor restaurants. If you are the outdoorsy type, Scottsdale is a great place to make your move so you can have more fun under the sun, but keep in mind that home prices and buying could fall after the summer.

3. The Weather

In Arizona, it gets really hot for only about three months out of the year. However, for six or seven months out of the year, it's sunny and warm — like heaven on earth. The temperature in Scottsdale can range from as low as 44 degrees in the winter to as high as 97 degrees in the summer. And, believe it or not, it has even lightly snowed a couple of times in the winter. During this spring/summer buying season where the market is as hot as the weather, more listings and higher mortgage rates could slow down the pace of home price appreciation.

4. Events And Sports

Throughout the spring, the hotels are flooded with athletes, families and sports fans from all around the nation who attend many of the local events. The most popular in the baseball world is spring training, where 15 major league baseball teams use all ten baseball stadiums located in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. For golf fans, we have the annual Phoenix Waste Management Open, which is the largest zero-waste sporting event in the world.

At the time of this writing, Governor Ducey has granted businesses and event organizers the option to continue requiring masks, social distancing and other preventive measures if they choose to do so, but it is no longer a requirement. Now that Arizona is back open for events with more relaxed protocols in place, the local economy is back and ready for business.

5. Near Top Travel Destinations

Living in Scottsdale, you are in a prime location to easily visit tons of travel destinations. Whether it's for a romantic getaway or for a family trip, you don't have to go the distance to have a vacation. Scottsdale is near the U.S.-Mexico border where you can dine, go horseback riding and wine tasting. The surrounding border states of New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California are all a similarly short distance. If you are looking for a local place to snow ski, only three hours away from Scottsdale, in Flagstaff, is a gem called Arizona Nordic Village. And only three and a half hours away is, of course, one of the seven wonders of the world — the Grand Canyon.

With so many things to do in the area, it's no wonder why so many people from out of state come to visit and end up never leaving. Even with the low housing inventory and sales prices beginning to rise due to the high demand, the new construction in the area will continue to keep growing so that the housing costs will stay down for you and your family.

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