Scottsdale rental house mixes styles
Near Camelback Road and 73rd Street, there are a number of hotels for visitors as they enjoy Scottsdale.
But there’s also a homier option: A Midcentury Modern house built in 1958.
The house is being used as an Airbnb rental and has received overwhelmingly positive reviews.
It was designed in the Midcentury style and was recently remodeled with a “soft contemporary” feel, according to the owners. The 1,898-square-foot house has a new 338-square-foot addition and now has five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It originally was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence.
The original architect is unknown, but architecture buffs will notice on the roofline and in other details that there’s an influence by esteemed local architect Ralph Haver.
Haver homes are usually less than 1,400 square feet. Characteristics include low-sloped rooflines, brick or block construction, horizontal strips of windows higher than eye level, floorto-ceiling walls of glass, brick patios and mantle-free fireplaces that take up
much of a wall.
The house is owned by a British investor who lives in Singapore and is managed by Karl Freund, a Realtor with Kenneth James Realty. Freund said, “exceptional effort” was spent on the interior details, including craftsman oak floors, granite countertops, dual master bedrooms, smooth wall texture, a reclaimed wood wall in the kitchen, a farmhouse-style sink and high-end cabinetry.
Freund particularly likes that the house is near a biking trail and businesses such as restaurants and bars.
The backyard has views of Camelback Mountain and features a large covered patio with built-in grill and TV, a natural-gas fire pit and a six-person hot tub. As for the large front patio, it has a waterfall and lounge area.
The journey to being a successful vacation rental had some pitfalls.
Soon after the investor purchased the property, it flooded. A water-supply line in the toilet snapped and the floors were covered in a couple inches of water.
“A 10-cent piece ended up costing us about $30,000,” Freund said. “But it was a great opportunity to redo the home and to refresh it.”
Freund likes that the house maintains its Midcentury roots, but with a refreshing contemporary charm. It might not be a Haver home, but it’s a piece of Scottsdale history nonetheless.