Terravita is a luxury residential community that sits on 825 pristine acres in the high Sonoran Desert. The scenic desert landscapes serve as a background for this community's upscale amenities, which include the Terravita golf course, a community center and onsite fine dining facilities.

Terravita dates to 1994 when the first of the upscale homes were built here. The last of the homes were finished in 1997, and the real estate market now in Terravita now consists primarily of resale single-family and attached homes, such as condominiums and townhouses.

Terravita also comprises of 23 separate neighborhoods. It has a 24/7 guarded gate to enhance safety and also control traffic in the community.

The prices of the homes for sale in Terravita reflect the exclusivity of the community. The typical median price for a Terravita home sits at around $640,000. However, closing prices for homes in the Terravita community can range anywhere from $370,000 to $1.158 million.

The homes that are listed for sale in Terravita typically sell in fewer than three months after being listed. Interested buyers can find Terravita homes for sale by contacting experienced local agents like Carl Chapman REALTOR and West USA Realty.

People who want to buy homes in Terravita will find a variety of home styles and sizes. The homes that make up this luxury community are primarily single-family residences. However, buyers can also routinely find townhouses and condominiums for sale in Terravita as well.

The homes available to buyers range in size from 1600 to 3900 square feet and cost around $388 per square foot, on average. They also commonly have two to four bedrooms, and upwards of three to five bathrooms, as well as two and four-car garages.

Additional features that buyers can anticipate in many of the homes for sale in Terravita include:

• Tall ceilings with ceiling fans
• Fireplaces
• Floor to ceiling windows
• Stone or tile floors
• Recessed lights
• Formal dining rooms
• Kitchen islands
• Granite counters
• Oak cabinetry
• Garden bathtubs
• Studies or dens

The landscaping surrounding Terravita homes plays up the natural desert scenery. Yards typically contain elements like palm trees, succulents and rocks.

Further, many homes in Terravita have enclosed backyards with in-ground swimming pools. They also have features like pool houses or gazebos, as well as covered patios or terraces.

People who buy homes in Terravita become members of the Terravita Community Association. This association collects dues from Terravita residents. The dues range in price from $103 to $402 per quarter.

The dues that homeowners pay to the Terravita Community Association are used to maintain and repair shared amenities within the community. The association comprises of a board of directors, including a president, vice-president, and treasurer. It also has an onsite manager who oversees much of the daily operations within Terravita.

The community association hosts meetings that any Terravita homeowner can attend each month. In the event that residents cannot attend the meetings, however, they can find minutes from these monthly meetings on the community association's website.

The association is also tasked with ensuring the safety and appearance of Terravita. It maintains a 24-hour guard at the gates leading into and out of the community. It also handles requests for any landscaping or architectural changes to Terravita homes.

The Terravita Community Association also publishes all of its rules and by-laws on its website. Homeowners here can find publications related to parking, having extended guest visits, using fireworks and using the shared community amenities. They can also submit questions and concerns on the community association website.

The community association maintains and makes available a host of amenities that residents in Terravita can access throughout the year. The premier community amenity is, of course, the Terravita Golf and Country Club.

Greg Nash and Billy Casper designed this luxury golf course to accommodate both novices and experienced players. It is a nine-tee course, with green ranges that measure between 5200 to 7000 yards. It also has slopes that range from 121 to 141 yards. It also has amenities like:

• A two-way driving green
• A chipping green
• A putting green
• A pro-shop

People who join the country club also have access to its 35,000-square foot clubhouse. The clubhouse offers a host of amenities like:

• Onsite dining facilities
• A lap pool
• Outdoor terraces
• A fitness center
• Six tennis courts

Aside from the upscale onsite amenities found in Terravita, residents in the community are also close to conveniences and services in nearby Scottsdale and Carefree. For example, they are just a few minutes away from local shopping centers and grocery stores. They are also just a few miles from major medical facilities, such as hospitals and medical clinics, as well as pharmacies.

The families in Terravita are also close to several public schools that are a part of the Cave Creek Unified School District, which serves students in the community. Parents of school-aged children here can send their students to Black Mountain Elementary School, Sonoran Trails Middle School and Cactus Shadows High School.

The Cave Creek Unified School District has received accolades on both the state and national level. In fact, it receives a national grade of B-plus for the overall quality of education. It receives a grade of A for both academics and college preparation.

Within the state of Arizona, the Cave Creek Unified School District ranks 22nd out of the 115 public school districts for academic performance. It is the 39th safest school district in the state and ranks 31st out of 115 for the quality of its athletic programs.

The Cave Creek Unified School District has a graduation rate of 94 percent, well above the national average of 85 percent. It has a student-to-teacher ratio of 24:1 and a total student body of 5400 students. State standardized test scores likewise show that 66 percent of students are proficient in reading, and 68 percent of students in the district meet proficiency for mathematics.