Owning a home in Silverleaf means paying a stack of costs: the property itself, a DC Ranch assessment, a Silverleaf assessment, and a separate club membership decision. The only one of those layers you can negotiate is the house.

Scottsdale single-family homes sold below list price after 75 days on market during the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, even with prices rising strongly year over year. Push on price, and get every fee in writing before you close.

Key takeaway

Silverleaf is a gated community inside DC Ranch in north Scottsdale, and its price is a stack: the home, association assessments at two levels, and a separate club membership decision. The house price is the part you can negotiate. Scottsdale single-family homes sold below list over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, so push on price and get every fee in writing. If the layered fees or the club don’t fit your plans, the rest of DC Ranch offers the same area with fewer of them.

Who this guide is for

You’re considering a home in Silverleaf and need to know what owning there costs beyond the list price, and whether the club and the extra association layer make sense for your budget, before you make an offer.

Understanding the Silverleaf community in Scottsdale

Silverleaf is located in north Scottsdale near the McDowell Mountains. It’s not an independent town or a standalone development. The community sits east of Pima Road and north of the Loop 101 freeway, and how it’s structured matters before you start looking at individual houses.

Where Silverleaf sits within DC Ranch

Per the DC Ranch Association’s resident resources, Silverleaf is one of the four official villages of the DC Ranch master plan, alongside Desert Camp, Country Club, and Desert Parks. Each village is governed by its own Design Guidelines recorded with the Maricopa County Recorder.

Being inside DC Ranch means answering to more than one set of association rules and assessments. Read both sets of documents, not just Silverleaf’s.

Homes in Silverleaf

The community’s original master developer, DMB Development, established Silverleaf as a private, gated neighborhood where custom homes and homesites range in size from 1 to 15 acres. The developer describes the housing product entirely as custom and semi-custom homesites.

Because custom homes vary so much, a neighborhood median says little about any one house. Comparable sales are few, which means pricing a specific home takes careful comp work.

The true cost of owning a home in Silverleaf

The list price is only the first line item. Buyers should expect multiple layered costs every month, and those layers are the only way to budget accurately and know what you’re negotiating when you submit an offer.

The purchase price

The Scottsdale single-family median sale price was $1,271,993 over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026. Silverleaf homes routinely list and sell well above that citywide figure, which makes city averages useful as context but not as direct comparables.

A citywide median can’t tell you what a specific Silverleaf home is worth. Only recent Silverleaf sales of similar size, lot size, and view can. Read our average home cost in Scottsdale guide to see how the broader city market performs.

DC Ranch and Silverleaf association fees

The DC Ranch Association’s 2025 Board budget presentation confirms every DC Ranch homeowner, including those in Silverleaf’s enclaves, pays three separate assessments: a Ranch Master Association assessment covering grounds and maintenance, a Neighborhood/Sub-Association assessment specific to the home’s enclave, and a Community Council assessment.

For the Horseshoe neighborhood, one of Silverleaf’s enclaves, the 2025 monthly Neighborhood Assessment is $208.90 and the Ranch Master Association Assessment is $141.65. Ask the Silverleaf Association and the DC Ranch Association for current annual assessments, the latest budget, and any pending special assessments before your inspection period ends. Check our HOA fees in Scottsdale page for how these structures work locally.

Silverleaf Club membership

Buying a house in Silverleaf and joining the Silverleaf Club are two separate decisions with separate costs. The club runs its own terms, and you shouldn’t assume a membership transfers with the house you buy.

Get the club’s current terms in writing directly from the club. Dollar figures and public play rules are covered in the FAQ section below.

Property taxes

At these price points, property taxes are a significant line item. Check the parcel’s current tax bill on the Maricopa County Assessor and Treasurer sites rather than estimating from the purchase price. The seller’s bill reflects their specific assessment history, not yours. Our property taxes page explains how Arizona’s limited property value and tax rates function.

How much room buyers have to negotiate

For illustration only: on a hypothetical $4,000,000 list price, the citywide single-family sale-to-list median would put a sale about $144,000 below asking. That gap is often larger than a year of association assessments, which is why the purchase price is the layer worth pushing on.

Custom homes don’t always follow the citywide median. Some sell at full price; others sit. Check this ratio against recent Silverleaf sales before you rely on it.

Current Silverleaf housing market outlook

Scottsdale single-family data shows buyers have time and some room to negotiate even while prices rise. Single-family prices rose strongly year over year in the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, yet the median home took 75 days to sell. Supply sits at 4.8 months with 1,186 homes in inventory, which points to a balanced market.

That means you can do full due diligence on fees and association documents without racing other offers. Sellers should price from recent comparable sales rather than last year’s gains. The caveat is that inventory inside one gated community is small, so a single well-priced listing can still draw quick interest. Check our Scottsdale housing market page for the full city picture, and our how long to sell guide if you’re listing a home.

Daily life in the Silverleaf area

Silverleaf’s location places residents near major hiking areas and north Scottsdale retail centers. Getting around means relying on a car, and daily routines often involve driving south toward the center of the city.

Trails and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy operates the Scottsdale-owned Preserve in partnership with the City of Scottsdale. They list the Gateway Trailhead at 18333 N. Thompson Peak Parkway as the Southern Region access point closest to the DC Ranch and Silverleaf area.

Summer heat limits trail use to early mornings for several months a year, and popular trailheads fill their parking lots on cool-season weekends. See our things to do in Scottsdale page for more outdoor options.

Shopping, dining, and daily errands

The DC Ranch community site states residents can visit Market Street, DC Ranch Crossing, and Canyon Village for dining, shopping, and services. It describes Market Street as the central retail and dining hub serving DC Ranch and north Scottsdale, which includes the adjoining Silverleaf village.

Beyond this nearby village center, most errands, big-box shopping, and wider restaurant choices mean driving south.

Commutes and getting around

Main routes out of the area include the Loop 101, Pima Road, and Thompson Peak Parkway. Daily life here assumes a car. Check the commute to your own workplace or the airport at the time of day you’d drive it. Our getting around page covers regional transit patterns.

Schools, healthcare, and safety

The Scottsdale Unified School District (District 48) provides official online school locator tools on its ‘Our Schools’ page, including a downloadable district boundary map. School assignment is set by address and can change, so verify the exact address with the district before relying on it, and review our schools page.

For medical access, read our hospitals page. For local crime data, review the Scottsdale Police Department records for the area yourself rather than relying on anyone’s description, and check our safety page to see how those numbers are tracked.

Deciding if Silverleaf fits your search

Do you want the Silverleaf Club, or mainly the location? If private golf inside the community is part of what you’re paying for and you’re prepared to budget a separate membership, start with Silverleaf. If it’s the location that matters, compare the association fees with the rest of DC Ranch before you shortlist homes inside the gates. Other DC Ranch neighborhoods outside the Silverleaf gates offer the same location without a second, Silverleaf-level assessment or a club decision.

Can your monthly budget carry two association assessments on top of the mortgage and property taxes? Check the HOA and tax sections above to see what to request. Will you need to lease the home part of the year? Check the leasing FAQ and the document review steps before you commit.

Does it have to be a detached home? Townhouses had a median of $559,907, down 4.3% year over year, giving buyers open to attached homes more room to negotiate. See our best neighborhoods hub for alternatives.

Steps to buy a home in Silverleaf

Buying here requires checking multiple layers of association rules and club terms. Taking these steps during your inspection period is what prevents expensive surprises after closing.

Request the association documents early

Ask for both associations’ CC&Rs, current budgets, reserve studies, meeting minutes, and leasing rules as soon as you’re under contract. Read them within the inspection period to check for pending special assessments, rental minimums, and transfer fees.

Document packages can arrive late in escrow, so build in time to read them before your inspection period ends.

Confirm club membership terms in writing

If the club matters to you, contact the Silverleaf Club directly before closing to ask about availability, the application process, and whether any membership transfers with the specific home. Treat the seller’s description of membership as something to verify, not a fact.

Membership terms are set by the club, not by the purchase contract. A verbal assurance from either side isn’t enough.

Review design guidelines before planning changes

If you plan to remodel, add a pool, or change plantings, read the DC Ranch design guidelines and approval process before you buy. Ask whether part of the lot is recorded as Natural Area Open Space under City of Scottsdale rules, which limits disturbance.

Design review adds time and approval steps to any exterior project, and protected open space on a lot can’t be built on.

Write the offer from Silverleaf comps

Base the offer on recent Silverleaf sales of similar size, lot size, and view, not on citywide medians or the list price. Use the typical price gap as a reason to negotiate.

With few sales a year, the right comparable property may be months old. Adjust for how the broader single-family market has moved since. David Arustamian can pull recent Silverleaf comps for a specific home; see our best real estate agent in Scottsdale page for help.

At a glance

These are city-wide Scottsdale figures, not Silverleaf figures:

• Scottsdale single-family median sale price: $1,271,993, up 10.6% year over year (760 sales, 90 days ending 2026-09-30)
• Scottsdale single-family median days on market: 75 (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
• Scottsdale single-family sale-to-list ratio: 96.4%; share sold above list: 7.2% (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
• Scottsdale single-family months of supply: 4.8, with 1,186 homes in inventory (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
• Scottsdale single-family median price per square foot: $455 (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
• Scottsdale townhouse median sale price: $559,907, down 4.3% year over year (257 sales, 90 days ending 2026-09-30)
• Scottsdale condo median sale price: $352,964, down 4.9% year over year; months of supply 7.9 (189 sales, 90 days ending 2026-09-30)

Silverleaf, Scottsdale FAQs

How much is membership at Silverleaf in Scottsdale?

The Silverleaf Club doesn’t publicly disclose its membership fees. Third-party golf-industry tracking sites report 2026 estimates of a golf membership initiation fee around $400,000-$500,000 with monthly dues near $2,750-$3,900, and a clubhouse initiation fee of about $100,000 with monthly dues around $875-$900. Contact the club directly for current terms and whether anything transfers with a specific home.

Is Silverleaf Golf Club private, and can non-members play?

Yes, the club is strictly private, with access requiring membership or an invitation from a current member. Guests must be accompanied by a member at all times. The Silverleaf golf course was designed by Tom Weiskopf in collaboration with Phil Smith of Jackson Kahn Design.

Is Silverleaf part of DC Ranch?

Yes, Silverleaf is one of the four official villages within the DC Ranch master plan. Every DC Ranch homeowner, including those in Silverleaf, pays a Ranch Master Association assessment and a Community Council assessment, plus a specific Neighborhood assessment.

Is Silverleaf a gated community?

Yes, Silverleaf is a gated community. Check directly with the association for exact guest, delivery, and contractor access procedures.

How far is Silverleaf from Old Town Scottsdale and Sky Harbor Airport?

It depends on your exact starting point and the time of day. Drive the route to Old Town Scottsdale and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport yourself to check distances and off-peak drive times, and check our getting around page for more transit details.

Can you rent out a home in Silverleaf?

It depends on the specific sub-association rules. DC Ranch’s governing documents require a minimum six-month lease term, and properties may be leased only twice in any 12-month period. Buyers should obtain the specific Silverleaf sub-association’s current CC&Rs directly to check for stricter rules, and remember that the city requires a license for rentals under 30 days.

Is Silverleaf cooler than central Scottsdale?

Yes. Based on USGS topographic quadrangle data, the Silverleaf Club area sits at an approximate elevation of 1,896 feet, while the City of Scottsdale reference point near Old Town is at approximately 1,257 feet. That puts Silverleaf roughly 600 feet higher than Old Town Scottsdale.

What hospital is closest to Silverleaf?

HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center is the nearest hospital to the community. Check our hospitals in Scottsdale page for trauma-center details and check the exact driving distance from your specific address.

Sources

• Redfin: Data Center
• DC Ranch Association: Standards & Guidelines
• DC Ranch Association: 2025 Budget Presentation
• Golf Scottsdale: Silverleaf Membership Cost
• Golf Scottsdale: Silverleaf Country Club
• DMB Development: Silverleaf
• McDowell Sonoran Conservancy: Trail Maps
• DC Ranch Association: Dine, Shop, Services
• DC Ranch Association: Rent or Sell Your Home
• City of Scottsdale: Vacation and Short-Term Rentals
• Scottsdale Unified School District: Our Schools