McDowell Mountain Ranch: Over 100 Foreclosures
August 24, 2008 by Frank
Whoa! I always knew McDowell Mountain Ranch was full of fakes and phonies, and it has gained the notorious nickname of ‘Wisteria Lane’ due to all the cougars living there, but now I’ve learned that there are over 100 active foreclosures in McDowell Mountain Ranch!
Then again, this shouldn’t come as any surprise. As early as 2001, I went to a party in someone’s house there, and could immediately see that the guy was your typical Scottsdale fake jackass, as were most of the guests in attendance.
I also know a friend of a friend who “bought” a house there, probably never made a single payment – or a down payment for that matter – and was being kicked out almost as soon as the move-in was complete.
To top all of that, the entire area has a major scorpion problem. Many homes are infested, and even the ones that aren’t and that were “sealed” by half-ass Scottsdale contractors still get plenty of them. Many people have to get cats just to control the scorpions.
Drive around the area and it’s downright depressing – street after street of identical, mass-produced houses that are extraordinarily bland and blend right into the bland desert environment.
In the backdrop is the so-called “preserve” which is off-limits to the public and has denigrated into a filthy garbage dump for those shady contractors. And is also largely responsible for the scorpion problem. But at least the NIMBYs are getting what they deserve for blocking nearby development 
Most of the people living there are just as bland, depressing, and identical as the homes. No character, no personality, no ambition, no nothing. Just more bland Scottsdale drones living fruitless lives in the mass-production zone.
Ahh, Scottsdale. You never cease to amaze me!
As a side note, I made it to five Rush shows on their world tour that just ended, and every time they played Subdivisions, I couldn’t help but think of Scottsdale. Here are a few excerpts from the song:
Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone
Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights…
Good God! 100+ foreclosures?!? I never thought it would get that bad.
I had some clients that lived up there and lived way beyond their means, so I guess it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but still, that’s a lot.
Rush was my favorite group growing up.
My first concert was Rush, the Moving Pictures tour in 1981. Amazing show!
They opened up with “Temples of Syrinx.”
The opening act was a great prog group from Canada called FM. The electric violin player from that band also played on the song “Losing It” by Rush.
On a related note, nothing like living in an expensive McMansion, only to have a scorpion writhing in your cornflake bowl at 7:30 in the morning. Yum!
Talk about high-class living.
Now go pay that radar ticket you got for speeding on Scottsdale Blvd.
Awesome! Great to hear from a fellow Rush fan. I’ve been to so many shows that Alex Lifeson waves hi to me from the stage and I’ve gotten to know Michael, Neil Peart’s bodyguard, and he hooks me up with sticks at the shows. Of course, it helps sneaking in a bottle of The Macallan, Neil’s favorite
I also got a nice thank-you card in the mail from Neil Peart for mentioning Rush in my latest book. To me that was a total class act and not at all what you’d expect from any other rock band these days!
Yeah no kidding on the scorpions. I’ve seen them at my girlfriend’s uncle’s $1.5M house in Troon. Nothing like spending all that money only to not be able to walk barefoot in your own house. Nice.
Par for the course in Atlanta. There are entire subdivisions being auctioned off with 3000 sq ft brand new homes loaded up on upgrades selling in the $100K range. But even so I’m not ready to pull the trigger as I think it will go even lower.
DC Ranch Country Club:
http://www.trulia.com/foreclosure/2001512668–E-Thompson-Peak-Pkwy-39-Scottsdale-AZ-85255
A million bucks? Seriously? That’s Newport Beach pricing in mickey-mouse SCOTTSDALE!
Frank,
Those aren’t all bank foreclosures. Read the website a little more carefully next time.
Thanks.
Prices down about 28% year-over-year in Phoenix, almost as bad as Las Vegas and Miami. What seems unsettling is that Phoenix would seem to be lagging those two cities in the unfolding of its slowdown.
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/08/25/daily19.html?f=et73&ana=e_du
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/29/20080829abrk-policedog0830.html
Another of Scottsdale’s dumbest kills his own police dog.
I’m not a fan of Rush, the lead singer has a whimpy-ass girly voice (I think he looks like a chick too if I recall – or at least he’s sported a mullet before) but regardless I dig those lyrics.
word
With the unprecedented, unconstitutional activity of our “rulers” the past 4 days, I thought I would post some Rush lyrics I find appropriate. The rulers might find it prudent to not steal everything.
Theres no bread, let them eat cake
Theres no end to what theyll take
Flaunt the fruits of noble birth
Wash the salt into the earth
But theyre marching to bastille day la guillotine will claim
Her bloody prize free the dungeons of the innocent the king
Will kneel, and let his kingdom rise
Bloodstained velvet, dirty lace
Naked fear on every face
See them bow their heads to die
As we would bow as they rode by
And were marching to bastille day la guillotine will claim
Her bloody prize sing, o choirs of cacophony the king has
Kneeled, to let his kingdom rise
Lessons taught but never learned
All around us anger burns
Guide the future by the past
Long ago the mould was cast
For they marched up to bastille day la guillotine — claimed
Her bloody prize hear the echoes of the centuries power isnt
All that money buys
Today’s Case-Shiller show Phoenix number 1…..in house price declines
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/10/28/a-look-at-case-shiller-numbers-by-metro-area-3/
I GOT CAUGHT UP IN TAKING OUT LOANS ON MY HOUSE…I AM IN THE GRAYHAWK AREA. I REFIANCED, GOT A SECOND MORTGAGE,, THEN REFIANCED AGAIN….WHAT A FOOL I WAS, NEARLY LOST MY HOME. FINALLY FOUND A LOCAL COMPANY TO MODIFY MY LOAN… WITH A PAYMENT I CAN AFFORD. I LEARNED AHARD LESSON …..SCOTTSDALE ISN’T WORTH IT!!!!! BE SMART
A good sign? Fortune, December 22, 2008, page 66, highlights Scottsdale as a destination of foreclosure bus tours. A broker is quoted as saying it’s time to buy.
Frank has a bit of an issue with Scottsdale.
Maybe he lives in Avondale and is jealous of the nice area he can’t afford and won’t have him anyway.
Maybe he got jilted of all the supposed “Cougars” that live there.
FYI Frank, there are MORE families in Scottsdale than singles and they work and put their kids through schools. Try “reading between the lines” when you see posts portraying Scottsdale as some hedonistic area where ALL inhabitants are labeled as such.
my company just cut its sales department in scottsdale. dont talk to me about how great this city is. every job ive had in scottsdale has been a complete joke. I cant stand this place. Cant wait to graduate nursing school so i can finally leave this dirtball town called arizona
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