Thank You, Scottsdale North — For Everything

This time of year always makes me stop and think about how lucky I am, and there’s something I don’t say often enough or out loud enough: Thank you, Scottsdale North.

Thank you for giving me a life I never could’ve imagined — and for letting me share it with thousands of people over the past 30 years.

How Scottsdale North Changed My Life

I'm from the south suburbs of Chicago, and I didn't grow up around any of this. I'd been doing well selling new homes when a developer handed me a free membership to Alta Mesa Country Club — his way of convincing me to drive over an hour to sell his community. That gift changed everything.

Suddenly I was surrounded by golf, tennis, basketball, fitness, great conversations — and people who lived for the exact same things I did. I'd never experienced that kind of community before. Didn't even know it existed. And I remember thinking: There's a whole world available, and people need to know about it.

Discovering a New Kind of Community

So in 1989, I took a job at Desert Mountain. It was still new — they'd just finished Cochise and Geronimo and that first incredible clubhouse. At the time, it was just three courses and a dream. But being there opened my eyes to everything this area had to offer: The Boulders, Troon, Desert Highlands, Gainey Ranch. Mirabel, Estancia, and DC Ranch weren't even thought of yet. I played the courses, studied the intricacies of what made each one special, so that I could help others to understand the distinctions.

That’s when I started Buyers Resource — the first company in Scottsdale dedicated solely to representing buyers. It let me do what I loved most: helping people find the community that truly fit them in Scottsdale North.

Then came Terravita.

When I heard it was being built, I met with the developers to discuss a joint marketing plan to the Midwest. This was a new type of community, and it was clear from the jump they had no idea what they were creating. They thought it would take 6 to 8 years to sell out. But I knew this market intimately — and I knew Terravita was exactly what had been missing. I knew it was going to explode. Fortunately, I convinced them to hire me.

It became the most successful selling community in the United States. Sold out in just three and a half years. If the land had been prepared, we could've sold out in one! Six times people camped out overnight in our parking lot just to buy - one for 10 days! It was a dream project for me. It was like auditioning for people I wanted to hang around with anyway and telling them about this gold mine I'd discovered!

Terravita's success sparked copycat communities all across the country. One of them was Winfield, right across the street — and Pulte Homes hired me to sell that one too. Can this story get any better?

After that, I went back into resale — doing what I'd done before, only better: helping people find the place where they truly belong in Scottsdale North. And that's where I've stayed ever since.

Why I’m Still Grateful Today

So here's what I want you to know, Scottsdale North: You didn't just give me a career, you gave me a community I am proud to serve every single day. You gave me over 30+ years of joy watching people I genuinely love discover what I discovered all those years ago — that this really is the greatest place on earth for people like us.

Every time someone finds their place — no matter the community — I feel that excitement all over again. That spark. That sense of yes, I can’t believe we found this.

I didn't build Scottsdale North. But Scottsdale North built me. It gave me purpose, community, lifelong friendships, and a front-row seat to one of the best stories in Arizona — thousands of families discovering their own version of the good life.

And for all of it, I’m deeply grateful.

Thank you for letting me be part of this story. Thank you for trusting me to help tell yours. And thank you for being exactly the kind of community that makes a guy like me wake up every day feeling lucky.

Scott Gaertner is an Associate Broker with Keller Williams Arizona Realty and a 35-year Scottsdale North expert. He’s helped thousands of people find their ideal lifestyle and shares local insights on ConnectingScottsdaleNorth.com. For more information, visit scottgaertnergroup.com or call 480-634-5000.