Arizona Setting ‘Great Getaway for Canadians’
If you have clients who are dreaming of a true western experience (down to horseback riding through the desert) who want the glamour of an authentic southwest-style home in a rugged and diverse landscape, yet want the option of being waited on hand and foot, you might want to tell them about a place you know in Arizona.
The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is set high in the Sonoran Desert just northwest of Tucson at the foot of the Tortolita Mountains. The 800-acre resort community is on “high desert, with lots of vegetation and is tucked into the mountains,” says Dove Mountain’s community developer David Mehl, who bought 6,200 acres in the mountains in 1984. He says he chose “the best part of the mountain” for the Dove Mountain community. Work began in 1996 and is now about 40-per-cent complete.
The picture-postcard setting has thousands of majestic saguaro cacti and dramatic views in every direction. Some home sites are adjacent to a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Others are in open spaces showcasing the desert landscape and mountains.
Customizable and custom homes, which range from 1,900 to 5,400 square feet, are designed to bring the outdoors in. Highly customized plans are offered so buyers can make the home their own, Mehl says. Custom estate sites are available for those who don’t mind waiting 10 to 12 months for the home of their dreams. For those in a hurry to enjoy the serenity and beauty, there are some already-built spec homes for sale.
As you might expect with a property associated with the Ritz-Carlton, top-quality services and amenities are offered. Ownership in the Dove Mountain community includes access to The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa, which opened in 2009, and golf memberships.
The community has a 45,000-square-foot clubhouse that includes a fitness centre, tennis courts and restaurants. Housekeeping, valet, concierge and gourmet delivery services are available. The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Resort and Spa includes 225 guest rooms. Five restaurants within the community offer everything from causal pool-side grill and alfresco dining to gourmet.
Ritz-Carlton would not have come if this community wasn’t unique, Mehl says.
Buyers love the location, 25 miles northwest of Tucson and within 90 minutes of the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, but it is the serenity and spectacular setting they love most, he says. “It’s a great winter getaway for Canadians.”
Buyers range from 40 to 70 years of age and include professionals who are partially retired, retired or work remotely.
Canadians are allowed to live in the United States for six months of the year, and Dove Mountain residents stretch their stays to the max because they enjoy it so much, Mehl says.
The first person to buy a home in the mountain resort was from Calgary and other snowbirds have since followed suit, drawn by a combination of sophisticated homes, top-quality services, golf and other outdoor activities and a beautiful desert location.
It is adjacent to the 3,000-acre Tortolita Mountain Park and 2,400-acre Tortolita Preserve. Prices range from the high $600,000s to $2-million.
Dove Mountain pays referral fees to agents. “We are friendly and make it easy for the agent,” Mehl says. “We hired a terrific salesperson, Rich Oosterhuis. People may recognize his name. His dad, Peter Oosterhuis, is a famous golfer. It doesn’t hurt that Rich has golf background.”
