K. Hovnanian’s New Desert Ridge Community: 234 Gated Homes Beside the JW Marriott

 

Desert Ridge is getting something it has been short on for years: brand-new detached homes. K. Hovnanian Homes won roughly 53 acres beside the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa at a fiercely contested state land auction, and has been advancing plans for a gated community of about 234 single-family homes. For buyers who want new construction in North Phoenix’s most amenity-rich master plan, this one is worth tracking closely.

Why this site is special

Location did most of the work here. The parcel sits at 56th Street and Ranger Drive, next door to a landmark resort and the Wildfire Golf Club, minutes from Desert Ridge Marketplace, High Street, and Mayo Clinic. That combination triggered a bidding war: 116 bids pushed the price from roughly $37.8 million to $71.1 million, with K. Hovnanian outlasting seven other national and regional builders including Toll Brothers, Lennar, Pulte, Taylor Morrison, Shea, Blandford, and D.R. Horton. When that many builders fight for a site, it tells you what they think of the location.

The community at a glance

At a glance	K. Hovnanian Homes — Desert Ridge
Builder	K. Hovnanian Homes (founded 1959)
Size	~52.9 acres, SW corner of 56th Street & Ranger Drive
Planned homes	~234 gated single-family homes
Acquired	September 23, 2025 state land auction
Price	$71.1 million (~$1.3–$1.4 million per acre)
Status	Plans advancing toward city approval
Nearby	JW Marriott Desert Ridge, Wildfire Golf Club, Loop 101

Plans, home counts, and timelines can change as a project moves through city approvals. Reach out and we’ll keep you updated as details are released.

What buyers can expect

1. Hovnanian has built homes since 1959 and operates across single-family, townhome, condominium, and active-adult product. In Arizona it also builds Aria at Silverstone in North Scottsdale, where gated new townhomes have been positioned as a relative value in an expensive ZIP code. A similar approach in Desert Ridge — new, gated, well-located homes at a price below comparable Scottsdale addresses — would fit both the builder’s pattern and the area’s buyer pool.

 

Location & lifestyle

• Resort next door: the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, with Revive Spa, dining, and the AquaRidge water park.
• Golf without dues: the public Wildfire Golf Club — an Arnold Palmer Signature course and a Nick Faldo Championship course.
• Shopping & dining: Desert Ridge Marketplace and High Street minutes away.
• Employers & access: Mayo Clinic and the CityNorth corporate district nearby, with fast Loop 101 and SR-51 connections.

Who it’s for

This community should appeal to families and professionals who want a brand-new gated home, buyers relocating for Mayo Clinic or the area’s expanding employers, and anyone who wants Desert Ridge’s amenities and Paradise Valley schools without buying a dated resale.

Frequently Asked Questions for K. Hovnanian’s New Desert Ridge Community

 

1. What is the new K. Hovnanian community in Desert Ridge?

It’s a planned gated community of roughly 234 single-family homes on about 53 acres in Desert Ridge, North Phoenix. K. Hovnanian Homes acquired the land at a state land auction in September 2025, and its plans have been moving through the City of Phoenix approval process.

2. Where will the community be located?

On the southwest corner of 56th Street and Ranger Drive — directly beside the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa and the Wildfire Golf Club, with quick access to the Loop 101 and SR-51.

3. How competitive was the land purchase?

Extremely. Bidding opened near $37.8 million and ran 116 bids before K. Hovnanian won at $71.1 million — roughly $1.3 to $1.4 million per acre. The builder outlasted Blandford Homes, Toll Brothers, Lennar, Pulte, Taylor Morrison, Shea Homes, and D.R. Horton.

4. Who is K. Hovnanian Homes?

Founded in 1959, K. Hovnanian Homes is the consumer-facing brand of Hovnanian Enterprises (NYSE: HOV), a national builder of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and active-adult communities. In Arizona it also builds Aria at Silverstone in North Scottsdale.

5. How many homes will be built, and will it be gated?

Plans have called for approximately 234 homes in a gated setting. Because the project has been working through city approvals, final counts, plans, and amenities can still evolve — worth confirming before you make plans around it.

6. When will homes go on sale?

No public sales date had been announced at the time of writing. Communities of this size typically move from approval through infrastructure to first releases over a period of months to a few years, so joining an interest list early is the best way to stay ahead.

7. What will homes cost?

Pricing hasn’t been released. For context, Desert Ridge home values have averaged around $865,000, and given the roughly $1.3–$1.4 million per acre land cost and the site’s resort-adjacent location, expect pricing positioned in the move-up to luxury range.

8. Why does this community matter for Desert Ridge?

Because it brings brand-new detached homes to a market where nearly all inventory is resale. For buyers who want new construction with the Desert Ridge lifestyle — rather than a remodel or an older floor plan — it’s one of the few near-term options.

9. Who is this community best for?

Families and professionals who want a new gated home with easy access to Scottsdale and North Phoenix, Mayo Clinic-affiliated buyers, and relocation buyers who value new construction, resort amenities next door, and Paradise Valley Unified schools.

10. Why work with The Holm Group to buy here?

New-build sales agents work for the builder, not for you. With over 26 years of experience and more than $250M in closed transactions, The Holm Group represents your interests, helps you compare this community against every other Desert Ridge option, and negotiates lot premiums, upgrades, and terms.

 

Want to know the moment it releases?

New-home communities reward early movers with the best homesites and plan selection. If a new gated home in Desert Ridge is on your list, now is the time to get positioned.

Explore neighborhoods across the Valley on our featured communities page, and learn more about the builder at the official K. Hovnanian Homes website.

When you’re ready to get on the interest list with your own representation, The Holm Group can guide you through it. Reach out and let’s find the home that fits the life you’re after.

 

Work With Andrew & The Holm Group

If you’re considering buying or selling a home, Andrew & The Holm Group have more than 26 years of experience helping buyers and sellers throughout Phoenix, Deer Valley, Scottsdale, Glendale, and the greater Phoenix area. Our team specializes in single-family homes, luxury properties, and established Valley communities, providing expert local market knowledge, innovative marketing, and skilled negotiation to help clients achieve exceptional results. 

 

Let The Holm Group Help You Sell or Find Your Next Adobe Highlands , AZ Home.
Call Andrew @ The Holm Group Today at 480-206-4265.

Last Updated: July 2026