Key takeaways
- Desert Mountain centers on its private club: several courses, a social calendar and gated living.
- Troon North offers more variety in neighborhood type and price point, with less of a single-club identity.
- Both sit at higher elevation than central Scottsdale, so you'll see a little more cool weather and very different terrain.
- Drive times to Old Town, Sky Harbor and Scottsdale Airport differ, so map them against how you'll spend your days.
- Carrying costs (HOA, club, landscaping, home watch) should be compared line by line.
Why do seasonal buyers compare these two communities?
When a buyer tells me they want desert views, golf and room to breathe, Troon North and Desert Mountain are usually on the shortlist. Both offer the high Sonoran Desert landscape that brings people to North Scottsdale in the first place: granite boulders, saguaros, the outline of Pinnacle Peak or the Continental Mountain range, and night skies that are noticeably darker than closer in. Both also have a strong seasonal-owner base. The way they're organized is quite different, though, and that's what decides it for most people.
How is club life different in Desert Mountain and Troon North?
Desert Mountain is built around a private club with multiple golf courses, clubhouses, fitness and racquet facilities and a busy social calendar. For many owners, the club is the reason they're there. If you want a ready-made winter social life, that can be a real advantage. It also means club dues are a significant part of the annual cost, and membership policies should be understood before you buy.
Troon North is centered on two well-known golf courses and a mix of neighborhoods around them. Golf access works differently than at a single private club. Owners here tend to build their social lives around the courses, nearby dining and the wider North Scottsdale area rather than one club. For buyers who like golf but don't want club life to define their winter, that flexibility is attractive.
My guides to living in Troon North and the Desert Mountain neighborhood page go into each community in more depth.
Which is easier for lock-and-leave ownership?
Both can work well, but the details differ. Desert Mountain's gated structure and its many villages with association-maintained landscaping make it straightforward for an owner who leaves for the summer. Troon North has gated enclaves, too, along with non-gated neighborhoods and custom homes on larger lots, where the owner handles more of the upkeep.
Whichever you choose, plan for a home-watch service, remote monitoring of water and HVAC, and a pool service if the home has one. Summer is hard on a home that sits empty, and a few hundred dollars a month for good oversight usually pays for itself.
How do location and drive times compare?
Desert Mountain is farther north and east, toward Carefree and the Tonto National Forest, so it feels more remote, which some owners love. Troon North is a bit closer to the Pinnacle Peak dining area and the Loop 101 corridor. If you'll fly in and out often, map the drive to Sky Harbor and to Scottsdale Airport from each specific home. If you'll spend a lot of time in Old Town or at Kierland, that matters too.
How do the homes themselves differ?
Desert Mountain has a wide range of products, from lower-maintenance villas and patio homes to large custom estates on view lots. Troon North has a mix of production, semi-custom and custom homes, many with contemporary desert or Santa Fe-influenced architecture, and some on large lots with significant natural open space. In both communities, the lot is a big part of the value. View corridors, privacy, elevation and how the home sits among the boulders all matter.
What does the market look like this winter?
North Scottsdale's luxury segment has cooled from its peak but still leans toward sellers more than the Valley overall. Scottsdale's Cromford® Market Index was 133.6 on Oct 29, 2026, compared with 66.7 for the Valley on Oct 31. In both communities, the price band and home type matter more than the community average. I'd pull the last 90 days of closed sales for the exact product you want before setting a budget.
How should I compare total annual cost?
Build a simple side-by-side for two real homes, one in each community, including:
- HOA dues (master and sub-association) and any fees due at closing.
- Club initiation and annual dues, if you'll join.
- Property taxes and insurance.
- Landscaping, pool, home watch and utilities.
That exercise often settles the question faster than any tour. If you're also weighing resale, my notes on selling in Desert Mountain show what buyers there focus on.
Which one would I choose?
There's no single answer. If a social winter built around one club is the goal, Desert Mountain is hard to beat. If you'd rather keep your options open and have a little more variety in home types, Troon North often fits better.
How do I put this into practice with a real address?
Start with the property you are actually considering — not a portal average. Pull the last 90 days of closed sales that match the same community, product type, and condition band. Walk the competition that is active today. Then decide whether the story of this home (or this building, or this lot) is strong enough to stand next to that set.
In my experience advising Northeast Valley clients for more than 30 years, the owners who do that homework early make cleaner decisions. The ones who wait for "the market to feel better" usually meet more inventory later. Scottsdale's Cromford® Market Index was 133.6 on October 29, 2026 — still a seller's market — while the Valley sat at 66.7 on October 31, 2026, a buyer's market. Those readings move weekly, so check the latest numbers before you make a decision.
If you want a second set of eyes on the comps and the showing plan for your specific situation, call me at (602) 622-1226. We answer 24/7, and I'll walk you through the numbers without the urgency language that wastes everyone's time.
FAQ
Is Desert Mountain or Troon North better for golf?
It depends on how you want to play. Desert Mountain is organized around a private, multi-course club, while Troon North is centered on two well-known courses with a different access structure.
Is club membership required in Desert Mountain?
Membership policies vary by home and have changed over time. Confirm the current rules for the specific home with the club before you write an offer.
Which community is more lock-and-leave friendly?
Both can be. Look for a gated village with association-maintained landscaping and plan for home watch and remote monitoring wherever you buy.
Are Troon North and Desert Mountain in Scottsdale?
Both have Scottsdale addresses in far North Scottsdale. Confirm the jurisdiction and tax details for the specific parcel.
Can you set up a tour of both in one trip?
Yes. I often plan a two-day tour that covers both communities and a few comparable homes. Call (602) 622-1226 to plan yours.
If you're deciding between Troon North and Desert Mountain for a winter home, I'm happy to build a side-by-side on two or three real properties so you can compare the real numbers. Call me at (602) 622-1226, answered 24/7.
Author Bio
About Darren Tackett — Darren Tackett, REALTOR®, leads The Tackett Team, powered by eXp Realty, the #1 Mega Team in Arizona (RealTrends 2025), and #75 Mega Team nationally by volume. For more than 30 years he has focused on luxury homes, golf communities and land across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and the Northeast Valley, including the roughly $28.1 million Altitude sale at Silverleaf in 2022 — the Scottsdale record and the highest closed sale in Scottsdale. The Tackett Team | eXp Realty, 20551 N. Pima Road, Suite 185, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. (602) 622-1226 (answered 24/7). darren@tackettteam.com.