Scottsdale · Land Sales
Selling Land and Acreage in Scottsdale, With the Site Plan Answered
Selling raw land or unimproved acreage to the buyers who plan to build on it, with zoning and water answered upfront.
Selling Land in Scottsdale, What You Get
Selling land in Scottsdale means selling a building site under some of the most specific desert rules in Arizona. Much of north Scottsdale falls under the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance, which governs about 134 square miles of desert and mountain land north and east of the Central Arizona Project canal. On those lots, a share of the parcel stays preserved as natural area open space, from about 15 percent on flat lower desert up to 80 percent on steep hillside.
Buyers for Scottsdale land are usually planning a custom home, often with a barn and arena, or they are builders. Every one of them asks the same first question: how much of this lot can I actually use?
What you get from me is that answer prepared before the listing goes live, so buyers can price your land with confidence instead of discounting for uncertainty.
Why Scottsdale Land Sellers Choose Kim Williamson
I'm Kim Williamson, REALTOR with REAL Broker, 24 years in real estate and more than 1,000 transactions closed. I've designed three horse properties from bare ground, so I know what a buyer planning a barn and arena needs to see.
A land buyer's biggest fear is the unknown. Is part of the lot in a floodplain? Where do the washes run? Is there water at the lot, or will they need a well? Is access recorded? Each unanswered question becomes a price cut or a longer due diligence period. I gather the answers early.
If your land is unincorporated rather than inside Scottsdale city limits and you are selling five or fewer parcels, Arizona requires an affidavit of disclosure at least seven days before transfer, covering access, utilities, water supply, wastewater, flood zone, and zoning. You record it with the deed.
The land seller guide lays out the full approach.
Our Land Selling Process in Scottsdale, What to Expect
Show the buildable area. Open space requirements, washes, slopes, and setbacks shape what a buyer can build. We present the usable area plainly.
Document water and wastewater. City service, an existing well, or the path to a new one, and sewer or septic. Scottsdale is inside the Phoenix Active Management Area, where exempt wells are limited to 35 gallons per minute.
Pull the flood status. Maricopa County's floodplain viewer shows it, and determinations from the Flood Control District at 602-506-2419 are free.
Confirm access and survey. Recorded easements and a current survey remove the biggest stallers in land deals.
Price it as land. Against land sales of similar size and buildable area, not houses. My pricing approach explains it.
Reach builders and custom-home buyers. My launch campaign is aimed at people planning to build.
Getting a Scottsdale Lot Ready to Sell
Land sells on clarity. A Scottsdale lot with its questions already answered draws stronger offers than one that leaves a buyer guessing. Here is how I prepare a lot for market.
Order or update the survey. Boundaries, easements, and topography in one document. On desert land, the topography tells a buyer where building is practical.
Show the building envelope. Natural area open space, washes, and setbacks reduce the usable area. A simple exhibit showing what remains lets a buyer picture a home, a barn, and an arena.
Document water options. City service at the lot, an existing well with records, or the steps to a new well. Buyers price uncertainty about water heavily.
Document wastewater. Sewer availability or septic suitability. A buyer will want to know before committing.
Pull the flood status. A flood zone determination from Maricopa County's Flood Control District is free, and having it in hand removes a common objection.
Confirm access. Recorded legal access is essential. If the lot relies on an easement, have the recorded document ready.
Capture the views. Aerial photos and video showing the McDowell Mountains, the surrounding preserved desert, and the lot's position near trails or WestWorld sell the setting.
Prepare the disclosure. For unincorporated parcels, the affidavit of disclosure must reach the buyer at least seven days before transfer. Preparing it early avoids a delay at closing.
Local Context & Proof for Scottsdale
Scottsdale land sells on setting. A lot near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, its equestrian trailheads, or WestWorld carries a location premium that outlying land cannot match, and the open space rules protect the views around it.
Buyers will still compare price per acre with Apache Junction land for sale and Queen Creek land listings. I show them why Scottsdale's setting earns the difference.
Want to know what your Scottsdale land is worth? Call or text me at (480) 206-1500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does natural area open space affect my Scottsdale land's value?
It reduces the area a buyer can build on, so it shapes value directly. Showing buyers the usable area clearly helps them price your lot with confidence instead of discounting for uncertainty.
What disclosure applies to unincorporated land near Scottsdale?
Arizona requires an affidavit of disclosure for sales of five or fewer unincorporated parcels, delivered at least seven days before transfer and recorded with the deed. It covers access, utilities, water, wastewater, flood zone, and zoning.
Who buys land in Scottsdale?
Mostly custom-home buyers, often planning a barn and arena, and builders. They need clear answers on buildable area, water, wastewater, access, and flood status.
Do I need a new survey to sell my Scottsdale land?
A current survey is strongly recommended. It shows boundaries, easements, and topography, which buyers need to judge where they can build and what the lot is worth.
Scottsdale
What land sales looks like in Scottsdale
Luxury equestrian: WestWorld access and improvement quality drive value here, not raw acreage.
WestWorld of Scottsdale has hosted the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show every February since the late 1980s, plus the Arizona Sun Circuit (major AQHA Quarter Horse event). Scottsdale equestrian estates average $2,676,731, with per-acre pricing averaging around $316,025, lower per-acre than working acreage areas because value sits more in the home and improvements.
- Nearby
- WestWorld of Scottsdale (Arabian Horse Show, Arizona Sun Circuit)
- The trade-off
- Different value structure than Queen Creek/San Tan Valley: luxury improvements and WestWorld access over raw acreage.
The method
How we do it in Scottsdale
Land Sales: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Kim Williamson Realtor?