The horse property communities of Cave Creek, North Scottsdale, and Rio Verde continue to rank among the most desirable destinations in Arizona for equestrian living. These regions offer a distinctive blend of Sonoran Desert beauty, horse-friendly zoning, and luxurious equestrian estates, making them ideal for trail riders, ranchers, and competitive equestrians alike.
With access to world-class riding terrain—including Tonto National Forest, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, and Cave Creek Regional Park—these areas provide direct trail access from many properties, making them a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who love to ride in nature.
🌵 Why Buyers Love This Area:
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Cave Creek: Known for its rustic Western charm, local rodeos, and active equestrian community.
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Rio Verde: Offers upscale, serene horse properties with open desert views—ideal for those seeking privacy and tranquility.
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North Scottsdale: Combines high-end homes with elite equestrian amenities including training arenas, barns, round pens, and luxury boarding facilities.
Whether you’re an endurance rider, competitive trainer, or casual trail rider, these communities offer the right mix of desert lifestyle and equestrian functionality—with city conveniences nearby.
***** In order to be considered a horse property, the horse property listing must have at least one horse feature: Arena, Auto Waterer, barn, corral, stall, tack-room,hotwalker etc….
📊 Market Snapshot: May 2025
As of May 8, 2025, the equestrian housing market in Cave Creek, Rio Verde, and North Scottsdale is showing clear signs of a cooling trend, giving buyers the upper hand:
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Active Horse Property Listings: 64 https://www.flexmls.com/share/C81dz/Selected
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Median List Price: $1,525,000
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Median Home Size: 2,995 sq ft
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Median Price per Sq Ft: $499
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Horse Properties with Arenas: 29 (out of 64) https://www.flexmls.com/share/C81rl/Selected
In comparison, back on April 8, 2025, there were:
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59 active listings
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Median List Price: $1,559,000
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Median PPSF: $571
👉 Takeaway: Prices have come down, and more homes have hit the market, signaling sellers are adjusting expectations.
💸 Sales Activity & Market Conditions
In the past 30 days, 7 horse properties sold in this region: https://www.flexmls.com/share/C81fo/Selected
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Median Sold Price: $900,000
(Down from $1,212,500 in the previous 30-day period) -
Average Price Reduction (List to Sold): -$50,000
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Current Market Status: Cold – Favoring Buyers
According to the Cromford Report:
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The Cromford Market Index (CMI) has dropped to 77, the lowest since April 2009.
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Inventory is now 4% above normal, with more homes listed daily.
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Buyer demand isn’t keeping up, resulting in rising inventory and pressure on sellers.
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Median home sales prices are down 5.9% month-over-month (April to May 2025), and down 9.6% from March.
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Mortgage rates remain steady in the high 6% range.
📍 Zip Code Breakdown (as of May 2025):
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Rio Verde 85262: 360 active listings | 70 under contract
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North Scottsdale 85266: 151 active listings | 37 under contract
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Cave Creek 85331: 261 active listings | 69 under contract
These numbers reflect colder market conditions, giving buyers more selection and negotiation power.
🐴 Final Thoughts
Now is an excellent time for buyers looking for horse property in Cave Creek, Rio Verde, or North Scottsdale. With prices softening, inventory rising, and motivated sellers, the door is open for savvy buyers to find exceptional equestrian properties at more competitive pricing.
If you’re considering buying or selling horse property in the North Valley, I’d love to help guide you through the current market.
Disclaimers:
- System Links automatically expire after 30 days
- The definition of “Median is often considered a more accurate reflection of the typical property because it better represents the center value in a dataset by excluding the high and low values of the outliers.
- Not all listings are with West USA Realty brokerage.
- Full supporter of the Fair Housing Act.
Ron Bykerk is a seasoned entrepreneur and Arizona horse property specialist with over 30 years of experience in the equestrian industry. As a REALTOR® with West USA Realty, he combines his deep knowledge of equine properties, land use, and the unique needs of horse owners to help buyers and sellers navigate the Arizona horse property market. Having visited thousands of equestrian properties across the state, Ron offers unparalleled expertise and a centralized platform—Arizona Horse Property Resource—to ensure maximum exposure, expert guidance, and seamless transactions. His long-standing relationships with horse owners, trainers, and equestrian professionals reflect his commitment to serving the Arizona horse community with integrity and passion.
📞 Call or text: [480-221-1280]
📧 Email: ron@azpropertyresource.com
🌐 Learn more: arizonahorsepropertyresource.com
West USA Realty
2355 W Utopia Rd Ste #100, Phoenix, AZ 85027
Proud Supporter of the Fair Housing Act
