The Tackett Team Blog

August 24, 2026

How to Buy a Luxury Home in Scottsdale

How the luxury process differs from the mid market: proof of funds, jumbo financing, delayed marketing and office exclusive listings, deeper due diligence and community selection.

August 23, 2026

How to Make a Winning Offer in a Competitive Market

Price opens the conversation, but certainty closes the deal. Financing strength, proof of funds, contingency structure, timeline flexibility, earnest money and the moves that backfire.

August 23, 2026

The Ultimate Guide to Home Inspection Before Buying

What a general inspection covers and what it misses, when to bring in specialists, how to read the report, and how findings feed the Arizona BINSR negotiation.

August 22, 2026

Decoding the Relationship Between Home Age and Market Value

Year built is a proxy, not a price. Systems lifespan, era materials, floor plans, energy performance, renovation limits, and when an older home is the better buy.

August 22, 2026

Top Questions to Ask Before Making an Offer on a Home

A working checklist: the property, its systems, the seller's situation, the HOA documents, disclosures and the surrounding area. Built to be used before you write, not after.

August 21, 2026

Everything You Need to Know About Investing in Real Estate in Silverleaf

Factors that drive value in Silverleaf: lot position, view protection, architectural review, scarcity, holding costs, rental rules and liquidity in a thin market.

August 21, 2026

Exploring the Neighborhoods of Scottsdale

A first orientation to Scottsdale's areas: South Scottsdale, Old Town, the Arcadia corridor, McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch, and North Scottsdale's golf and preserve communities.

August 21, 2026

Is Troon Village the Right Fit for a Desert Second Home?

Troon Village mixes lock-and-leave townhomes with custom hillside estates below Troon Mountain. What seasonal buyers must confirm on HOA rules, rentals and maintenance before they buy.

August 21, 2026

Ultimate Guide to Selling Your House

A step-by-step seller guide for the Scottsdale market: net proceeds, choosing an agent, preparation, disclosures, pricing, marketing, offers and the escrow period.

August 21, 2026

The Perks of Buying a New Construction Home in Scottsdale

The real advantages of building new, plus the trade-offs: timeline risk, upgrade pricing, immature landscape, builder contract terms and the limits of a builder warranty.

August 20, 2026

The Best Restaurants in Scottsdale

The city's best rooms sorted by area: Old Town, the Scottsdale Road corridor, Kierland Commons and the North Scottsdale resort corridor, plus how dining shapes where you buy.

August 20, 2026

How HOAs Can Affect Your Home Value

Arizona disclosure rules and fee caps, reserves and special assessments, rental restrictions and architectural control, plus the questions to ask an association before closing.

August 20, 2026

Understanding Real Estate Contingencies and How They Work

Inspection, appraisal, financing and home sale contingencies explained: what each one protects, what waiving one actually costs, and why the deadlines matter more than the labels.

August 19, 2026

Top Brunch Spots in Scottsdale

Brunch here splits into three kinds of morning: loud and festive, fast and simple, or brunch as the occasion itself. Where each one is done well and what to confirm first.

August 19, 2026

Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Silverleaf

Relocating to Silverleaf in North Scottsdale? Districts, gate access, nearby shopping and airports, the Arizona summer, and a practical first 90 days.

August 19, 2026

How to Interview and Choose a Custom Home Builder in Scottsdale

Verifying an Arizona ROC license and insurance, checking references properly, contract structures, allowances, change orders, realistic timelines and the warning signs.

August 18, 2026

The Best Coffee Shops in Scottsdale

Scottsdale coffee sorted by what you actually need: a sit-down meeting, a long work session, a Saturday car meet, or a drive-through before sunrise.

August 18, 2026

Top Ten Factors That Influence Home Resale Value

Location, lot, condition, systems age, layout, updates, curb appeal, comparable sales, timing and HOA rules, weighted by how much leverage each one actually gives a seller.

August 18, 2026

Guide to Fountain Hills Living: Views and Village Life

Fountain Hills is its own incorporated town, not part of Scottsdale. A guide to the fountain and lake park, hillside view lots, pricing against North Scottsdale, and the commute.

August 18, 2026

How to Sell a Luxury Home in Desert Mountain

Desert Mountain spans 8,000-plus acres and dozens of villages, which makes pricing hard and membership a live issue in every sale. A seller's guide to positioning, timing and national marketing.

August 18, 2026

The Secret to Selling Your Home Above Asking Price

There is no trick. Above-asking sales come from correct pricing, preparation and real competition. What creates it, and when it is not a realistic goal in Scottsdale.

August 17, 2026

The Best Outdoor Dining Destinations in Scottsdale

A seasonal guide to Scottsdale patios: what to book from October through April, how to handle the shoulder months, eating outside in summer, and why patio orientation matters at home too.

August 17, 2026

The Role of a Real Estate Agent in Your Home Buying Journey

What a buyer's agent actually does, how written representation agreements work after the 2024 practice changes, and the signals that tell you whether yours is serving you well.

August 14, 2026

Best ROI Home Improvements for Your Home

Small exterior projects return, large interior remodels mostly do not. 2025 Cost vs. Value figures plus the roof, cooling, shade and solar adjustments that matter on a desert home.

August 13, 2026

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Your Home Inspected Before Selling

What a pre-listing inspection covers, the real case for and against one, how findings affect Arizona disclosure, and how to decide what to repair versus price around.

August 13, 2026

What It Is Like to Live in Grayhawk Scottsdale

Grayhawk offers championship golf with no membership required, walkable dining and quick Loop 101 access. Inside the community layout, courses and daily life.

August 11, 2026

Building a House in Silverleaf Scottsdale

Building in Silverleaf means buying a homesite, clearing architectural review and handling hillside requirements. Here is how the process actually runs, start to finish.

August 11, 2026

Guide to Buying a Home in Mirabel, Scottsdale

Mirabel is 713 acres and 335 homesites in far North Scottsdale with a Tom Fazio course. What buyers should know about lot sizes, seclusion, distance to services and club membership.

August 11, 2026

Inside Estancia: Life in Scottsdale's Pinnacle Peak Enclave

Estancia wraps the north side of Pinnacle Peak with fewer than 300 residences, a Tom Fazio course and a member-owned club. Here is what daily life, terrain and membership really look like.

August 11, 2026

Selling a Home in Silverleaf

Pricing is the hardest part of selling in Silverleaf because comparable sales are thin. How to price, prepare, market and time a luxury Scottsdale listing.

August 6, 2026

How to Set the Right Price for Your Home in the 2026 Scottsdale Market

How pricing really works in Scottsdale: why automated estimates mislead, what overpricing costs, how to read days on market and showings, and when to reduce.

August 6, 2026

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Home in Silverleaf AZ

Buying in Silverleaf starts with choosing a district. This guide covers Upper Canyon, Horseshoe Canyon and the Village, club membership, and how to approach an offer.

August 5, 2026

The Allure of Silverleaf AZ

Why Silverleaf holds its reputation: a permanent McDowell Sonoran Preserve boundary, canyon terrain, enforced architectural standards and a club inside the gates.

August 4, 2026

Buying a Home in McDowell Mountain Ranch

A buyer guide to McDowell Mountain Ranch in Scottsdale: preserve access, the 26 neighborhoods and their price tiers, the aquatic and recreation facilities, and how it compares on value.

August 4, 2026

DC Ranch Compared With Other North Scottsdale Communities

How DC Ranch stacks up against Grayhawk, Troon North and Windgate Ranch on price tier, club model, walkability and commute, including where Silverleaf fits and what DC Ranch does not do well.

June 28, 2026

The Honest Snowbird's Guide to Buying a Seasonal Home in North Scottsdale

The best communities for seasonal ownership, the real summer carrying costs and the rental offset strategy most snowbird buyers miss.

June 27, 2026

Arizona Property Taxes Explained for Luxury Buyers

The numbers, the rules and what most out-of-state owners never expect about property taxes on a North Scottsdale luxury home.

June 26, 2026

Renting vs. Buying a Luxury Home in North Scottsdale

An honest financial breakdown for 2026, with the actual break-even math at the $1.5M to $4M tier.

June 25, 2026

Moving to North Scottsdale from Texas or the Midwest

Five things nobody tells you before you buy in 2026, from climate and HOA structure to how the luxury market actually works here.

June 24, 2026

North Scottsdale Luxury Real Estate as an Investment

What the data actually says in 2026 about appreciation, rental demand and where the durable value sits in the corridor.

June 23, 2026

Windgate Ranch Scottsdale: A Complete Neighborhood Guide

What daily life actually looks like in Windgate Ranch, from amenities and schools to commute, pricing and how the community lives.

Silverleaf Homes for Sale: 2026 Complete Market Guide

A full 2026 market update on Silverleaf, including a landmark sale analysis and what buyers need to understand before searching.

Scottsdale Luxury Homes: 2026 Trends Revealed

Wellness-driven design, smart-home technology and the indoor-outdoor architecture reshaping what luxury means in Scottsdale.

Silverleaf Scottsdale Neighborhood Guide

Everything you need to know before you buy in Silverleaf, from the villages and Upper Canyon to the club and the buying process.

How to Sell a Luxury Home in North Scottsdale in 2026

Pricing, timing and what most agents get wrong when it comes to positioning a high-end North Scottsdale home for the market.

Moving to North Scottsdale from California

What to expect, where to live and how the market works for buyers relocating from California to North Scottsdale.

Silverleaf vs. Paradise Valley

A side-by-side comparison of pricing, lifestyle, privacy and amenities to help you decide which Arizona luxury community fits.

Silverleaf Scottsdale Home Prices in 2026

With a median that reached $6.4M, here is what buyers need to know about Silverleaf pricing before they start their search.

Inside The Silverleaf Club

The golf, spa, dining and amenities of The Silverleaf Club, and what membership actually means for homeowners.

The Popularity of the Silverleaf Golf Club

Why the Silverleaf Golf Club sits at the heart of one of Scottsdale's most sought-after luxury lifestyles.