Dove Valley Ranch is an expansive master-planned community that sits on 850 acres in Cave Creek, Arizona. It is located on unspoiled desert-high landscapes and offers unmatched resort-style amenities to all of its homeowners. It also offers close proximity to a championship golf course, designed by none other than Robert Trent Jones II.

This upscale community is located just south of East Carefree Boulevard and northeast of North Cave Creek Road. The homes that comprise Dove Valley Ranch are purposely situated at least 300 feet apart to maximize the roominess, privacy, and natural beauty that come from the surrounding desert landscapes.

The location of Dove Valley Ranch is so remote that sightings of wildlife like coyotes, javelina, and bobcats are common. However, the community itself is not so isolated that homeowners here cannot easily access services and retail shops within minutes of their homes. In fact, people who call Dove Valley Ranch are close to The Boulders resort, as well as the El Pedregal Marketplace.

Overall, Dove Valley Ranch prides itself on offering a rural, relaxed and quiet way of life that bypasses the noise, traffic, and busyness of life in bigger nearby cities. Homeowners here can enjoy captivating views of the sunrise and sunset. They can also easily see the starry skies without the glare of city lights.

The homes for sale in Dove Valley Ranch are typically single-family residences that feature southwest architecture to blend in well with the surrounding desert. The home prices average from the mid-$400,000s to around $600,000, if not slightly higher.

Those home prices get buyers large residences that have three or four bedrooms. Many homes also have two or three bathrooms, as well as attached two and three-car garages.

The insides of the homes feature designs like:

• Laminate wood flooring
• Open floor plans
• Natural wood cabinetry
• Ceiling fans
• Modern kitchen appliances

Buyers who work with local real estates professionals like Carl Chapman REALTOR and West USA Realty can also find homes with in-ground swimming pools, covered backyard patios, and landscapes that feature rocks, small boulders, succulents, and palm trees.

Homeowners are required to keep their properties up to the code that the community's homeowners association stipulates for Dove Valley Ranch. For example, they must use approved exterior paint colors and submit any architectural changes to their homes to the HOA.

The HOA also is responsible for maintaining and repairing shared community areas and fixtures. To cover the costs associated with keeping up community amenities, the HOA collects dues from all homeowners in Dove Valley Ranch.

Homeowners in the community can pay their dues by visiting the HOA's website. They can also use the website to submit questions and concerns about matters like a bothersome dog barking. They can also find the minutes from HOA meetings that are held once a month and open to all people who live in Dove Valley Ranch.

The HOA's website also serves as an information portal for homeowners to find out what is going on in the community and sign up for any community events that the HOA hosts. Each homeowner is encouraged to create an account on the website. They can use their accounts to pay dues, submit requests for architectural changes to their homes and find out the newest mandates that govern the community.

People who live in Dove Valley Ranch can also enjoy easy access to the activities and events that are held in Cave Creek throughout the year. Cave Creek highlights the long history of the area through events and celebrations that it holds regularly. It also is home to numerous decades-old bars and restaurants, as well as trails that residents in the area can use for activities like hiking, walking, and jogging.

Homeowners in Dove Valley Ranch can also take part in activities like horseback riding at Cave Creek's stables or visit any of the city's Wild West Museums. These features exhibit the Wild West feel that still exists in much of the area that surrounds the Dove Creek Ranch community.

Likewise, because Dove Valley Ranch sits at a higher elevation than other communities in the Phoenix area, it enjoys a milder climate. Homeowners here benefit from slightly cooler days and more comfortable evenings after the sun goes down.

Finally, Dove Valley Ranch is part of the Cave Creek Unified School District. This school district enjoys recognition as one of the best in the entire state.

In fact, out of the state's 115 school districts, Cave Creek Unified is ranked 22nd. It is ranked 39th for safety and 31st out of the 115 for its quality of athletic programs.

Further, the local school district has a small student body of only 5400 students. This small number means that classroom sizes are smaller, allowing students more time for one-on-one instruction from their teachers. The student ratio in the district is 24 students per one teacher.

Likewise, the Cave Creek Unified School District has a high graduation rate of 94 percent. The average ACT test score of college-bound students in the district is 27, beating the national average ACT score of 20.6.

More than two-thirds of the student population in the school district meets standardized state test scores for proficiency in subjects like math and reading. The district has six elementary schools, including Lone Mountain and Horseshoe Trails Elementary Schools. It also has one middle school, Sonoran Trails Middle School, and one high school, named Cactus Shadow High School, that serves the Dove Valley Ranch community.