Scottsdale stretches more than 30 miles from south to north, and its homes change along the way. South Scottsdale, around Old Town and Indian Bend Wash, is full of 1950s and 60s single-story ranch houses. Central Scottsdale has the master-planned neighborhoods of McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale Ranch and Gainey Ranch from the 1970s and 80s. North Scottsdale, toward the McDowell Mountains and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, is mostly larger homes from the 1990s onward.
Each area tends to need a different kind of remodel. South Scottsdale ranches often get full renovations: walls opened, new kitchens and baths, new flooring and windows. Central Scottsdale homes usually need layouts modernized and 70s and 80s finishes replaced. North Scottsdale homes often have quality construction wrapped in Tuscan and Mediterranean finishes such as dark cabinetry, ornate details, busy granite and travertine, which many owners want to lighten and simplify.
Desert contemporary is the look many Scottsdale homeowners ask for: lighter wood or painted cabinets, quartz or quartzite counters, large-format porcelain, matte black or brass fixtures and big glass connecting the house to the patio and mountain views.
Building permits come from the City of Scottsdale. Most master-planned communities have HOAs with architectural review for exterior changes, so windows, doors, paint colors and additions should be checked against your HOA guidelines early. Interior kitchen and bath remodels rarely need HOA approval.