Optima is a group of unique luxury condo communities in Scottsdale, including Optima Camelview, Optima McDowell Mountain, and Optima Kierland, which also has a rental component. They share extensive on-site wellness and recreation facilities. Location, for-sale versus rental status, and association paperwork decide which one fits you.
What should you know about Optima mid-rise condos in Scottsdale?
Optima is not one building. It’s a set of separate luxury condo communities in Scottsdale and Phoenix, including Optima Camelview, Optima McDowell Mountain, Optima Kierland, and Optima Biltmore (Phoenix), and they share a focus on on-site wellness and recreation facilities. If you’re shopping for mid-rise condos in Scottsdale, the right one depends on where it is located, whether the residence is a for-sale condominium, and what the association documents say.
Key Takeaways
- Optima Kierland offers condos for purchase as well as a rental side. The rental units at 7190 Optima Kierland have 216 studio through penthouse rental residences.
- Recent local market data for North Scottsdale shows a median sale price of $1,325,000 and a median of 15 days on market for sold homes, but that is an area-level read and not a condo-specific number.
- The strongest lifestyle draw across Optima is the mix of on-site wellness and recreation facilities, unique design and nearby dining, shopping, outdoor recreation, and entertainment.
- Before you offer on any unit, make sure to review the association fees, reserves, parking, storage, and rental restrictions in writing.
Most buyers who ask us about mid and high-rise condos in Scottsdale arrive with one picture in mind. That picture is a single Optima address with Old Town just outside the front door. It’s a reasonable picture, but the reality is a Optima now has a handful of separate communities in different parts of town, each with its own layout, location, vibe and paperwork. The good news is that once you find the community most suited to your lifestyle, it is easy to narrow it down.
Which Optima mid-rise condos in Scottsdale are for-sale condominiums?
The Optima communities we work with in Scottsdale are Optima Camelview, Optima McDowell Mountain, and Optima Kierland. Not everything carrying the Optima name is for sale, so confirm the ownership type of any specific residence before you get attached to it. Plus, you may want to explore Optima Biltmore located in Phoenix, which also offers a great lifestyle.
Optima Kierland is the clearest example. Its rental component is identified separately as 7190 Optima Kierland, with 216 studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom, and penthouse rental residences.
How do Optima McDowell Mountain and Optima Kierland differ?
Both sit in what we call Central Scottsdale, the area inside the top of the Loop 101 along the Scottsdale Road corridor, which also takes in Kierland and Scottsdale Quarter. Beyond that shared region, the differences come down to the specific building, floor plan, and view, and those are best compared unit by unit. We lay out the side-by-side for clients once we know their priorities.
Optima Kierland is an established community adjacent to Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland. Shopping, dining, and entertainment are all well within easy walking distance. Optima McDowell Mountain is a new development a little further north inside Loop 101. If you cross Scottsdale Road from Optima McDowell Mountain, you will have access to several dining and shopping options.
Optima Camelview is a different conversation, and we cover it from the Old Town side in our post on Optima Camelview condos. If you’re comparing several new-construction-style developments at once, our look at luxury condo developments reshaping Scottsdale gives you the wider field.
What amenities and features come with an Optima condo?
The verified common thread is extensive on-site wellness and recreation facilities. What varies by building and floor plan is everything inside your front door.
Buyers often ask about private terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and smart-home features. Some units have them and some don’t, so ask for the exact spec sheet and floor plan for the residence you’re considering rather than relying on a community-level description. We pull that detail for clients before the first showing.
How close are Optima condos to Old Town, restaurants, and shopping?
Optima Camelview is located in Old Town and is just steps away from the Scottsdale Fashion Square shopping mall and Old Town. If you’re looking for Old Town, this is your best bet.
You might expect “Scottsdale mid-rise condos” to automatically mean a walk to Old Town bars and galleries. For some addresses that’s close to true, but for others it’s a short drive, and the difference matters if you’re planning to leave the car parked.
- If walking to Old Town is your priority, Optima Camelview is your best bet.
- If Kierland or Scottsdale Quarter dining and shopping matter more, the Central Scottsdale locations are worth a closer look.
- If you’re not sure which matters more, we can take a look at all of the different communities, and you can determine which one fits your lifestyle the best.
Again, we always start with the lifestyle you want, then match the community to your goals. From there, we can start looking at units. A beautiful residence in the wrong location is one you’ll stop loving by the second month.
What should you verify before buying mid-rise condos in Scottsdale?
You will want to verify the association’s fees and what they cover, how much is held in reserves, your parking and storage, and any rental restrictions. These items shape your monthly costs and your flexibility more than the finishes do, and they differ from one Optima community to the next.
| Item | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Association fees | Current dues and a list of what they cover |
Shows your true monthly carrying cost |
| Reserves | The association’s reserve information |
Indicates how future major repairs may be funded |
| Parking | Number of spaces and whether they convey with the unit |
Affects daily use and resale appeal |
| Storage | Whether a storage space is included and how it’s assigned |
Matters if you’re downsizing from a larger home |
| Rental restrictions | Lease-term rules and any caps in the governing documents |
Controls whether you can rent the unit out |
| Unit features | Spec sheet for terraces, windows, and smart-home systems |
Features vary by floor plan and building |
So be sure to read the governing documents before your contingency window closes, not after. We walk our clients through them, and your title company handles the closing itself.
Is an Optima condo right for full-time, seasonal, or lock-and-leave living?
It can work for all three, and the building design supports it. A condo with shared facilities and no yard to maintain suits someone who travels often or is away for part of the year. The catch is the rental rules. If you’re counting on renting the unit while you’re gone, confirm what’s allowed before you buy. Typically, the minimum rental period for Scottsdale condos is 30 days. But some associations will require a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month stay.
What does the market look like around these condos?
We don’t have a verified condo-only figure for Optima to quote you, so here’s the nearest reliable reference. Recent local market data for North Scottsdale, as of October 2026, shows a median sale price of $1,325,000, with 900 active listings, 352 new listings in the last 30 days, and 644 homes sold over roughly 90 days.
At a $1.3 million median, we’d expect homes to sit for a while, but the median for sold homes was only 15 days on market. So sales are moving and 900 active listings still give you real choice. This is an area-level number, and an individual condo’s value depends on the building, floor, view, and timing.
For condo-specific figures, our monthly report, Phoenix and Scottsdale luxury condo sales for September 2026, is a better starting point. When we get to that point, we will certainly run the actual numbers for the unit or units you’re interested in.
If you’d like to hear from past clients before you reach out, you can read our reviews on Google, Zillow, and Realtor.com.
FAQ
Are Optima condos in Scottsdale within walking distance of Old Town?
Optima Camelview is walking distance to Old Town. Optima Kierland will give you access to Kierland and Scottsdale Quarter. Optima McDowell Mountain is across from The Promenade Scottsdale. Optima Biltmore in Phoenix is right in the heart of the Biltmore District with lots of shopping and dining options.
Which Optima properties are for-sale condominiums rather than rental apartments?
Optima Camelview, Optima McDowell Mountain, Optima Kierland, and Optima Biltmore are the communities we follow for condo ownership. Optima Kierland also has a separate rental component, 7190 Optima Kierland, with 216 rental residences.
Do Optima condos have private terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, or smart-home features?
It varies by building and floor plan. Ask for the spec sheet and floor plan for the exact residence you’re considering. We gather those details before showings so you aren’t guessing.
Are Optima condos suitable for seasonal owners or lock-and-leave living?
Yes, the format suits time away, since there’s no yard and the facilities are shared. Check the rental restrictions and association rules first if you plan to rent the unit while you’re gone. Those rules differ by community.
What should buyers verify about association fees, reserves, parking, storage, and rental restrictions?
Get the current dues and what they cover, the reserve information, your parking and storage assignments, and the lease rules, all in writing. These will be found in the association’s governing documents. We review them with you before your contingency window ends.
Optima isn’t one address, and the right one comes down to where you want to spend your days. Let’s connect and we’ll walk through the communities with you, starting with the lifestyle you want.
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Equal Housing Opportunity. Joyce Tawes and Heather Tawes Nelson, Associate Brokers, eXp Realty, regulated by the Arizona Department of Real Estate. This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Please confirm your own numbers with your title company, tax advisor, or lender.
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