From the lively streets of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and the serenity of Northern Georgia to the stoic desert landscapes of Arizona, homes that favor resort-style luxury are in demand.
By Kristen Ordonez
The Waterfall Club at Lake Burton
Situated in the mountains of Northern Georgia, The Waterfall Club provides social and golf memberships and a wide variety of activities and services. This pristine resort is a focal point for buyers interested in homes within the Lake Burton area, which provides the most luxurious real estate options, according to Julie Barnett, Realtor from Harry Norman, Realtors.
“Rabun County sits in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains,” Barnett says. “It is 67 percent national forest, so there is very little development on the mountains. There is hiking, biking, shopping in the small boutiques in Clayton and a variety of great restaurants.”
For those who have already staked their claim within the area, the perks of living there only seem to grow with Five-Star dining, two marinas and the Bent Grass fairways, which offer unsurpassed beauty and play ability. The current highest listing in Waterfall is $3.5 million, with other available homes ranging from 300 to 10,000 square feet.
The Triangle of North Carolina
One area that is used to the hustle and bustle of a resort-type atmosphere is the Triangle area of North Carolina, specifically the cities of Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. Realtor Jennifer Guyer-Stenner of Fonville Morisey Realty notes that this area is considered a “miniature Silicon Valley and encompasses three premier universities (UNC, NC State, and Duke),” resulting in “a true melting pot” of residents who frequently flock to sporting events, recreational lakes, and golf courses such as Governors Club, Wakefield and Northridge.
With 750 luxury homes on the market in the Triangle area priced above $750,000, and the highest priced listing at nearly $7 million, Stenner affirms that this location will satisfy the needs of any discerning buyer.
Arizona
Something important to consider when purchasing a home is to find a “real estate professional who knows where the values [and] where the safest investments are,” according to Realtor Frank Aazami. Both Aazami and Lisa Westcott-Wadey, who thrive as Realtors with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in Arizona, know the values that can be found in their areas.
“Arizona has many attractions and outdoor activities that most don’t realize,” Wadey states. With up-and-coming residential opportunities like the new Ritz-Carlton Residences in Paradise Valley and tech industries in Mesa and Chandler, both local out-of-state buyers seem to be flocking toward The Grand Canyon state for resort communities.
Whether your home of choice is the close to $20 million home in Silverleaf or something lower on the spectrum, the market is open, but fierce. According to Wadey, “buyers want what they want and they are not willing to settle.”
courtesy jennifer guyer-stneer, fonville morisey realty
photo ©thompsonphotographic.com 2015
courtesy Lisa Westcott-Wadey / The W. Group
courtesy Frank Aazami/tourfactory
These new residential options will bring two very different options to Pine Canyon residents.
Renderings courtesy Pine Canyon.
Pine Canyon, a private golf course and residential community in Flagstaff, Arizona, is preparing to break ground on estate homes and condos as the community experiences an increase in demand. Both Coconino Ridge and Mountain Vista will begin construction this summer.
Coconino Ridge, a moderately secluded enclave of 32 homesites nestled against the Coconino National Forest and overlooking picturesque hiking trails, will debut with a model that follows the 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath Coronado floorplan. The 2,660-square-foot model features an open floorplan, and utilizes center sliding doors to blend indoor and outdoor living.
Prices for homes in Coconino Ridge will range from $900,000 to $1.4 million, and the community began accepting reservations for in April.
“This neighborhood in particular really embraces its surroundings by offering design elements that strategically create a sense of inclusion, allowing the outdoor environment in and vice versa,” said Peter Burger, president of Symmetry Companies, which owns and manages Pine Canyon. “Coconino Ridge fosters flexibility when it comes to design, which is one of the reasons homeowners are offered unique options, from pocketing glass wall systems to bonus rooms, to customize their space at Pine Canyon.”
Mountain Vista, a village of condominiums that caters to buyers who appreciate a lock-and-leave lifestyle, will include 12 buildings with units ranging from 1,640 square feet to 1,990 square feet. Owners have the option of choosing fully-furnished units, and may also choose to have Pine Canyon manage their unit in their absence.
The following article originally appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of ERA Real Estate Distinctive Properties Magazine.
Not a single detail is an afterthought in this custom-built golf club home, approximately 90 minutes northeast of Scottsdale.
Photo courtesy Harold Rush
By Sarah Binder
Rising seamlessly out of a promontory within Payson, Arizona’s The Rim Golf Club, 2608 East Rim Club Drive is a collector’s paradise.
The three-bedroom, four-bath mountain home boasts a stunning collection of 360-degree panoramic views that connect each room to its surroundings — Mogollon Rim, miles of the nearly 3 million-acre Tonto National Forest, and a bird’s-eye view of the Tom Weiskopf- and Jay Morrish-designed golf course, featuring the largest stand of Ponderosa pines in the country.
Indoors, the owners’ love for…
In Prescott, Arizona the world’s tallest home can be seen with its 2,000-square-foot glass enclosed mezzanine and 360 degree views of Prescott. At 124-feet tall with only a 24 x 24 footprint, property taxes are low and the height affords cost-free automatic heating and cooling. This unique home, called Falcon Crest, could be yours for $1.5 million, according to toptenrealestatedeals.com.
According to the listing agent, Falcon Crest is the world’s tallest single-family home, soaring to 124 feet in the sky and containing 10 floors at different levels and angles. The estate consists of 6,200 square feet of living space, offering three bedrooms, four full baths, 2,000-square-foot solarium, open kitchen and great room. A hydraulic glass elevator is also included with the home, elevated six floors above the garage and providing stunning views with its all-glass roofs and walls.
Constructed at the slope of Prescott, Arizona’s Thumb Butte, the house that Phoenix architect Sukumar Pal built for his own family, expands over 120 miles to mountain ranges in every direction. Falcon Crest is also one of the most advanced homes in the world, Pal built Falcon Crest in 1994 to be energy efficient while still maximizing views with glass walls.
The Pal residence has won various awards for his specialization in designing energy-efficient homes, including four residential architecture world records. A top honors was awarded to the home for its unconventional heating and cooling systems that utilize passive solar for winter heat and micro climate and convective cooling in the summer.
Building a tower to be eco-friendly and leaving a small carbon footprint has achieved three major goals of Pal’s design: Taxes are considerably lower on a small footprint compared to a house that sprawls across its lot. For each gradient in height, the views become more expansive, and the height increases air movement from ground level up through the top of the tower.
Falcon Crest is very adaptable for various uses; the unique structure can be used as a single family residence, a work-living space, lab or offices. Frank Aazami is the listing agent with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty.
Photo courtesy of Fasano Residences + Hotel Miami Beach
By Kirsten Niper
Pine Canyon, outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Talking Rock Ranch, nearby Prescott, Arizona, recently welcomed Unique Homes to tour both properties and experience the stirring lifestyle they are curating. Operated by Symmetry Companies, whose motto is “Inspiring the Human Spirit,” both clubs offer top-tier amenities, including Jay Morrish-designed
golf courses.
My first visit was to Pine Canyon. Upon arrival, it was clear that the residents were the number one concern for the staff. One of the first things highlighted on our trip was the dog park, which was brought to life after a member formed a stewardship committee. “The most important thing is people. We can talk all day about service and lifestyle, but the most important is community. You have to create it and build it with a consistent set of values and a brand standard,” shares Annie Brown, vice president of Club and Membership Services, Resort Communities.
Pine Canyon offers distinctive communities throughout its 600-plus acres. Homesites start from the $100,000s; custom residences from the $900,000s; and cabins, condominiums and townhouses from the high $500,000s. Community amenities include a clubhouse with state-of-the-art spa and fitness facilities, a second amenity building with three pools, two tennis courts and a clubhouse for children and 7-acre Trout Creek Park. “The championship golf course, clubhouse and Camp Pine Canyon for kids set us apart from other Northern Arizona properties,” says Deanna Keck, executive vice president of community development and sales with Pine Canyon.
Talking Rock has developed an active and social lifestyle for those nearing retirement age. “The serene, peaceful environment, plus the hiking, biking and clubs offer a unique lifestyle in the Prescott area,” shares Jim Jones, designated broker with Talking Rock.
The Ranch Compound is the focus of community life, offering the Ranch House Restaurant and Morgan’s Bar and Grill, the Fitness Barn, Golf Shop, Coop’s Coffee House a pool and tennis courts. Offerings include Cooper Ranch homes from $574,900, Ranch Cottages from $459,900 and the Signature Series by Mandalay Homes that will exceed current energy code requirements.
During my visits to each property, I got to see a unique perspective of the communities and how much emphasis is put on the residents. From early morning hikes along Talking Rock’s championship golf course to seeing the petroglyphs near the property, to the spa day at Pine Canyon and gourmet meals at both locations, the human spirit is definitely inspired.
