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Carefree, Arizona · ZIP 85377
Desert Forest homes for sale
Homes for sale and 12 months of sales data in Carefree, ZIP 85377.
The short answer
As of November 2, 2026, there is 1 home listed for sale in Desert Forest, with a median list price of $1,120,000. Over the past 12 months, 5 homes sold at a median price of $1,258,000, or $382 per square foot, after a median of 102 days on market. Homes closed at a median of 92.92% of their final list price. With about 2.4 months of supply, the market is leaning toward sellers.
Source: ARMLS via Flexmls, calculated by Arizona Luxury Partners. Figures cover single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and patio homes in Desert Forest, as defined in the FAQ below.
The Desert Forest market, by the numbers
Closed residential sales, November 2, 2025 to November 2, 2026.
Months of supply is today's 1 listing divided by the 12 month average of about one sale every 2 months. 5 of the 5 sales closed at $1 million or more. Seller concessions are seller paid buyer costs, such as closing costs or a rate buydown, as reported on the closed MLS record. Listing success rate is the share of listings that left the market over the past 12 months that closed rather than being cancelled or expiring: 5 closed and 0 cancelled or expired. A listing that was cancelled and relisted counts as cancelled.
Desert Forest median sale price, 10 years
Yearly median sale price of closed residential sales, 2016 to 2025.
The median sale price for homes in Desert Forest went from $613,585 in 2016 to $1,299,000 in 2025, up 112%. The highest yearly median was $1,857,500 in 2022. A median is the middle sale of the year, so it moves with both prices and the mix of homes that sold. Ask us how values have changed for homes like yours.
See the yearly numbers
| Year | Median sale price | Homes sold |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,299,000 | 4 |
| 2024 | $1,175,000 | 6 |
| 2023 | $1,350,000 | 4 |
| 2022 | $1,857,500 | 4 |
| 2021 | $840,000 | 10 |
| 2020 | $830,000 | 5 |
| 2019 | $782,500 | 8 |
| 2018 | $865,000 | 3 |
| 2017 | $710,000 | 5 |
| 2016 | $613,585 | 8 |
Source: ARMLS via Flexmls. Closed residential sales by calendar year in Desert Forest as defined on this page, calculated by Arizona Luxury Partners.
Search Desert Forest homes for sale
Updated continuously from the MLS. Filter, save, and tour any home.
What the numbers mean right now
Our read on the market, for buyers and for sellers.
Over the past 12 months, 5 homes sold in Desert Forest, and 100% of them closed at $1 million or more. Today 1 is listed for sale, and it has already had a price change.
Pricing is where homes win or sit. 0 of last year's sales, or 0%, went under contract within 30 days, at about 0% of list price on average. 2, or 40%, took more than 120 days, and those closed at about 93% of their original list price on average.
If you are buying
- The typical home sold about 9% below its original list price, so there is room to negotiate on homes that have been listed a while.
- No sales in the past 12 months reported a seller concession, so negotiate on price first.
- Homes in Desert Forest vary in size, age, and updates. Compare a home against recent sales of a similar size and condition within the neighborhood.
- Ask for the association disclosures for the specific home, if it has an association, and confirm the assigned schools for that address.
If you are selling
- Your first month matters most. Homes that sold within 30 days closed at about 0% of list price on average.
- Homes that sat more than 120 days closed at about 93% of their original list price, so pricing right at the start pays.
- Price against recent Desert Forest sales of similar size, and show how your home compares on lot, location, and updates.
- We can show you the exact sales we would use to price your home.
About Desert Forest
The setting, the homes, and the neighborhood.
Desert Forest is a neighborhood of about 122 single-family homes in Carefree, Arizona, in ZIP code 85377, built from 1970 to 2002 according to Maricopa County Assessor records.
Custom homes around Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, a private 18 hole Red Lawrence course that opened in 1962.
The median lot is about 41,800 square feet, and homes are in the Cave Creek Unified School District, according to county parcel records.
- City
- Carefree, Arizona, ZIP code 85377
- Homes
- About 122 single-family homes (Maricopa County Assessor)
- Built
- 1970 to 2002 (Maricopa County Assessor)
- School district
- Cave Creek Unified School District (county parcel records; confirm schools for a specific address)
- Median home size sold
- 3,383 square feet over the past 12 months
- Sale prices, past 12 months
- $1,200,000 to $1,575,000
- Listings at $1 million or more
- 1 of 1 active listings
- Listings with a price change
- 1 of 1 active listings
Related pages
Compare Desert Forest with nearby pages.
Desert Forest questions, answered
How much do homes cost in Desert Forest?
The median sale price was $1,258,000 for the 5 homes, condos, and townhomes in Desert Forest that sold from November 2, 2025 to November 2, 2026, or $382 per square foot, with sale prices from $1,200,000 to $1,575,000. Homes listed for sale on November 2, 2026 had a median list price of $1,120,000.
How many homes are for sale in Desert Forest right now?
As of November 2, 2026, 1 home was listed for sale in Desert Forest in the MLS, and it was priced at $1 million or more. The search on this page updates continuously, so it always shows the current count.
How fast do homes sell in Desert Forest?
Homes that sold over the past 12 months spent a median of 102 days on the market and closed at a median of 92.92% of their final list price, or 90.57% of their original list price.
Is Desert Forest a buyer's market or a seller's market?
With 1 listing today and about one sale every 2 months over the past year, Desert Forest has about 2.4 months of supply, which is leaning toward sellers. Neighborhoods and home types move at different speeds, so ask us for the numbers on the homes you are considering.
How common are seller concessions in Desert Forest?
None of the 5 closed sales over the past 12 months reported a seller concession on the MLS record, such as seller paid closing costs or a rate buydown. With so few sales, that can change quickly, so ask us what sellers are offering today.
How many listings actually sell in Desert Forest?
Of the 5 listings that left the market over the past 12 months, 5 closed and 0 were cancelled or expired, a listing success rate of 100%. A listing that was cancelled and then relisted counts as cancelled.
What is Desert Forest like?
Custom homes around Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, a private 18 hole Red Lawrence course that opened in 1962. The median lot is about 41,800 square feet, and homes are in the Cave Creek Unified School District, according to county parcel records.
How have Desert Forest home prices changed over the past 10 years?
The median sale price for homes in Desert Forest was $613,585 in 2016 and $1,299,000 in 2025, up 112%. The highest yearly median in that span was $1,857,500 in 2022.
How does this page define Desert Forest?
Our search and statistics include residential listings, meaning single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and patio homes, in ZIP code 85377 whose MLS subdivision name includes Carefree Fore (the recorded name of the Desert Forest neighborhood). Figures were calculated by Arizona Luxury Partners from ARMLS data on November 2, 2026.
Thinking about Desert Forest?
Your vision, your home, our expertise.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will send new Desert Forest listings that fit, along with the sales data behind each one. Our office is on Pima Road in north Scottsdale. White-glove service at every price point.
Your advisors
602.814.7266
kyle@azluxurypartners.com
License BR665419000
Meet Kyle
480.510.7689
art@azluxurypartners.com
License BR014102000
Meet Art
Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties
Sources
- ARMLS via Flexmls. Residential closed sales November 2, 2025 to November 2, 2026, and active listings on November 2, 2026, for Desert Forest as defined in the FAQ. Medians, months of supply, and the listing success rate calculated by Arizona Luxury Partners.
- ARMLS via Flexmls. Residential closed sales for each calendar year from 2016 through November 2, 2026 for the same area, used for the 10 year median sale price chart.
- Home counts, years built, lot sizes, and school district: Maricopa County Assessor, parcel records, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Neighborhood description: , ALP golf community page data (golf gen2), accessed November 2, 2026.
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listing information is provided by the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ZIP code areas do not follow city limits or school boundaries, so confirm the city, HOA, and assigned schools for a specific address. This page is for general information only and is not financial, lending, legal, or tax advice. Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties, 21020 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Office 480.766.1515. Brokerage License LC629808000. Equal Housing Opportunity.
