Villa d'Este Scottsdale: Neighborhood Guide & Real Estate Market
There are exactly 30 homes in Villa d'Este. That number has not changed since 1966. The community sits on Exeter Boulevard in the 85251 zip code, less than a half mile from Scottsdale Fashion Square and within walking distance of the arts district, entertainment, and shopping districts of Old Town Scottsdale. It is nestled in a pocket with no thru traffic off of 68th st and Exeter Blvd, so most locals don’t even know that it exists. This is a guide to what Villa d'Este is, it’s history, and what the real estate case looks like in 2026.
The 30 properties in Villa d’Este are attached with charming front patios and small back yards. The allure of the community is it’s proximity to Old Town Scottsdale while being on the nicer and more desirable west side of town. Villa d’Este is literally on the same street as $17,000,000 estates.
Two sales in the last 400 days. The most recent closed off market on March 25, 2026 at $1,135,000 ($476.89/sqft), a 2,380 square foot unit in completely original condition. Before that, I represented the sale of a 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,631 square foot unit that closed May 28, 2025 at $1,140,000 ($433.29/sqft), a cash transaction that never hit the market. It was also in original condition.
The details are below.
Buyers looking for a more urban lifestyle may also enjoy our guide to Living in Old Town Scottsdale, which explores the restaurants, shopping, arts district, and lifestyle that make this area one of Arizona's most walkable neighborhoods.
The Architect, the Developer, and the 1966 Brief
Haver, Nunn and Jensen designed Villa D'Este for developer Dell Trailor in 1966 as part of his Gold Key Homes program. The concept was straightforward: lock-and-leave living in a walkable urban location, which was a progressive idea for Scottsdale at the time.
The architecture reflects that intentionality. Arched openings, stucco facades, decorative wrought iron balconies, and courtyard-oriented planning give the community a distinctly Italianate character that holds up six decades later. Most Scottsdale townhome developments built after this era don't have an architectural identity worth naming. Villa D'Este does.
What the Community Looks Like Today
Villa D'Este occupies a compact footprint on Exeter Boulevard between 69th and 70th Street. The 30 units range from approximately 1,800 to over 3,000sf, with two-bedroom floor plans dominating and some units offering a private office or third flex space.
Below-grade garages on select facades keep cars off the streetscape, a planning decision that was thoughtful in 1966 and reads as sophisticated today. Balconies with birdcage-style iron enclosures animate the upper elevations. Courtyard-facing units share landscaped common areas and a community pool.
Interior configurations vary widely by unit and renovation era. Buyers in the last decade have found everything from near-original kitchens and baths to complete gut renovations with concrete floors, high-end appliances, and expanded outdoor living. The concrete block construction and foam roof systems common to this era are durable and well-understood by local contractors, though they require the same maintenance discipline any 60-year-old structure demands.
One feature worth noting for buyers doing HVAC and systems due diligence: the concrete block construction provides significant thermal mass, which moderates interior temperature swings and tends to reduce peak cooling loads compared to wood-frame alternatives. It is not the only factor in utility costs, but it is a genuine structural advantage in the Scottsdale climate.
Buyers considering the neighborhood should be aware of the cast iron sewer lines that were standard when these homes were built. Decades on, those lines are often near the end of their lifespan and may need to be replaced with today's standard material: PVC.
The Lock-and-Leave Case in 2026
The buyer profile for Villa d'Este has shifted over six decades, but the core logic has not. Trailor built these communities for buyers who wanted urban proximity, minimal exterior maintenance, and the ability to leave for extended periods without the property becoming a liability. This neighborhood and part of Scottsdale is popular with homeowners looking to downsize from the large homes of Paradise Valley and North Scottsdale.
That profile maps closely to a significant and growing segment of today's Scottsdale buyer. Seasonal residents from Chicago, New York, Washington, and California who want to walk to dinner without managing a property manager. The math is simple: less to manage, more to use.
Old Town's walkability and amenity density have only improved. Scottsdale Fashion Square, the restaurant corridor along Scottsdale Road, the arts district, the canal path, and Camelback Mountain access are all within reach.
The HOA dues, reported around $3,000 annually on recent transactions, cover exterior maintenance, common area landscaping, and pool upkeep. For a buyer comparing true carrying costs against a similarly sized single-family home in the same area, the maintenance math tends to favor this format.
Buyers considering this submarket may also want to explore Villa Adrian, a neighboring community with a similar lock-and-leave lifestyle, Mediterranean-inspired architecture, and a slightly different pricing profile. Read our complete Villa Adrian neighborhood guide.
Thinking About Villa d'Este?
Villa d'Este does not appear on the market often. When it does, the window is short.
I sold one of the most recent transactions in the neighborhood, as well as the most recent sale in Villa Adrian. If you are interested in purchasing in the community, reach out to me.
Still comparing Scottsdale neighborhoods? Browse our neighborhood guides for Old Town Scottsdale, Villa Adrian, and Arcadia, to see how different communities compare in architecture, lifestyle, and long-term value.
Cody Wolfe is a real estate broker and Partner at The Agency Scottsdale, representing buyers and sellers across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, McCormick Ranch, and Arcadia.
