News > Soul Searching for Scottsdale Second Home Buyers

2022-10-11

If you are considering a second home purchase in Scottsdale, you may have figured out that the questions you ask yourself are entirely different than when you purchased your last full time residence. Instead of questions like "Is there enough room to put all my stuff?" and "Is the home in a good school district and close to my work?", you'll be asking more questions about your lifestyle and how it may change with a second home. Searching for a second home or condo really is about dreaming about what your lifestyle here may be like. It sounds all very existential, but we can help you get practical. We work with many of condo buyers purchasing as a second home, and see why the purchase does... and does not work for them.

Here are some questions that may help you do some thinking about what condo or townhome might be right for you:

How much do I want to spend on the comfort of my Friends and Family?

It's common for buyers to imagine buying the great family vacation place, sometimes as an enticement for the children to visit. That's when the number of bedrooms in the search criteria start to rise, because where are the grandchildren going to sleep, or what happens if all of my family or friends come at once? Though buying a condo or townhome as the family/friends gathering place sometimes works, often second home buyers see that after the first year, the family visits start to drop off, and you might end up paying more for bedrooms that are rarely used. If you are fearing this situation, consider buying a 2-bedroom condo with a fold out couch in the living room, or a den you can close off.

Peace and quiet?

Scottsdale is a city of dichotomy. North Scottsdale is quiet desert, but the rest of the city is pretty busy - with traffic, dense housing, and especially in Downtown Scottsdale, lots of people flocking to festivals and events. Some love that energy, especially if their primary residence is in a quieter spot. If you're wondering about whether that will be you, consider how much time you may be spending in Scottsdale - if it's 6 months, your habits here may match what you enjoy most in your primary residence. if it's a few weeks here and there, then a change to a more urban locale may be just what you need if you're looking for a change.

There are choices for those who can't decide. Las Villas is a townhome community on a quiet street, just a few blocks to Downtown Scottsdale. Villa Antano is even closer to Downtown but still in a quiet neighborhood. We can help you with other suggestions in this "happy middle."

Will I miss my own garage?

High rise condo buildings in Downtown Scottsdale and Kierland have some of the best amenities around, like the rooftop pool at the Scottsdale Waterfront, and the giant fitness facility and basketball court at the Optima Camelview. But in these buildings, you park in a (secured) garage and take an elevator to your floor. If you enjoy a walkable environment or taking a ride share is your cup of tea, you may not even need a car in Scottsdale. But for those who want to be close to their car, or want to store a bunch of stuff, not having a private garage may not be a perfect choice.

How Important Is the View?

One of our clients remarked, "I got so used to my view, I forgot to look at it." Others (many others) have told us that the view off of their condo balcony was the most important thing in the entire condo. One of the things some real estate agents like to do is to include a picture of a nearby mountain in the listing when the condo does not have that view from anywhere. That's how important a selling point it is. You will end up paying more for a view.

But that view may end up being your favorite thing.

You may have other decisions to make when you are looking for the perfect condo or townhome in Scottsdale. Even if you don't get it quite right, your purchase gets you to Scottsdale for a longer period than a hotel will. Warm weather, almost constant sunshine and fun activities await.

 

Though not guaranteed, information and statistics in this article have been acquired from sources believed to be reliable.

Related Links

• Scottsdale Townhomes
• Resort Style Condos in Scottsdale