A CAREFREE LIFESTYLE
The Town of Carefree is located just north of Scottsdale and east of Cave Creek. This charming town has a population of about 3,600 and is home to the world-renowned Boulders Resort.
Stroll down “Lazy” or “Ho” or “Hum” Streets and you will get a sense of what Tom Darlington and K.T. Palmer had in mind in the mid-1950’s when they created Carefree as a master-planned community. Carefree is true to its name—a town where you can live the lifestyle you want. Spacious luxurious homes provide havens from the city life just a few miles away and townhomes, casitas and condominiums provide “lock and leave” comfort.
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About Carefree
About Carefree
Downtown Carefree has remained true to its western heritage and is a hub for community events. The main street and the Historic Spanish Village are lined with shops and restaurants that serve everything from traditional cowboy eats to Mexican food to fine dining. Shop for Native American art and jewelry, tour one of the many galleries, or shop for home accessories as you stroll through the area. You will also find one of the largest sundials in North America located in the center of downtown.
There is never a lull Carefree. A seasonal farmer’s market allows the locals to show off their home-grown foods. You can attend one of the many concerts in the amphitheater or one of the entertaining art and wine festivals. Children will delight in playing in the covered splash pad area.
The Carefree Museum displays the best of Arizona history, allowing you to find out who passed this way during the heyday of the Old West. And if you are wondering if Hollywood has noticed the charm of this town, Dick Van Dyke, a longtime resident, had a studio here in the 70’s built by CBS.
Elevated at 2,500 feet and enjoying over 300 days of sunshine per year, you can almost always enjoy outdoor activities in Carefree. The temperature is usually a few degrees cooler than in the valley. Bartlett Lake and Horseshoe Lake are a short drive away and provide fishing, boating, waterskiing and other water sports. The Carefree Recreational Area is perfect for hiking and camping. Finally, you can enjoy the serenity of the mountains and natural desert landscape to the Tonto National Forest.
Arizona is famous for its world championship golf courses and Carefree is no exception. You will find clubs that offer great golfing and tennis just around the corner from your Carefree home. The Desert Forest Golf Club is home to numerous tournaments and is a true golf-only club, featuring no tennis courts or swimming pool. This members-only club is one of the oldest in the area. Another option is The Boulders Resort and Spa with its two golf courses, tennis facility and world-renowned spa.
Just a short drive away is Phoenix, host to a plethora of activities. The Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Cardinals, the Diamondbacks and the Coyotes have helped to put the city on the map for major sporting events. Phoenix is also home to the symphony, ballet, live theater and major concert events.
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MLS IDX Listing Disclosure © 2026
Copyright 2026 Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved. Information Not Guaranteed and Must Be Confirmed by End User. Site contains live data.
Carefree Home Sales Data
Carefree AZ Homes For Sale – Market Update for March 2026*
| Homes for Sale | 47 |
| Average List Price | $2,369,274 |
| Average Asking Price Per Square Foot | $566.64 |
| UCB- Under Contract Taking Backups | 9 |
| Average List Price | $1,475,222 |
| Average Asking Price Per Square Foot | $434.16 |
| Pending | 7 |
| Average List Price | $2,133,993 |
| Average Asking Price Per Square Foot | $539.92 |
| Sold | 15 |
| Average Sale Price | $1,778,627 |
| Average Sold Price Per Square Foot | $478.89 |
| Sales Price to List Price Ratio | 9805.8% |
| Months Inventory** | 3.1 |
*Data for single-family resale homes. Data pulled from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing System (ARMLS). Numbers subject to change. **Months inventory based on the number of homes for sale divided by the number of monthly sales.
Historical Carefree Single-Family Home Sales Activity
Carefree Real Estate Dashboard
Quarterly Sales Data & Market Trends (2013-2025)
Annual Summary
| Year | Total Sales | Average Price | Price Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77 | $1,707,380 | ↑ 18.5% |
| 2024 | 89 | $1,440,305 | ↓ 1.1% |
| 2023 | 93 | $1,456,764 | ↓ 12.4% |
| 2022 | 93 | $1,662,018 | ↑ 27.8% |
| 2021 | 154 | $1,300,647 | ↑ 23.3% |
| 2020 | 149 | $1,054,999 | ↑ 14.8% |
| 2019 | 108 | $919,278 | ↓ 0.5% |
| 2018 | 89 | $923,743 | ↑ 7.7% |
| 2017 | 107 | $857,812 | ↑ 6.6% |
| 2016 | 88 | $804,883 | ↓ 2.3% |
| 2015 | 107 | $823,469 | ↓ 10.3% |
| 2014 | 69 | $918,432 | ↑ 19.5% |
| 2013 | 106 | $768,375 | – |
Quarterly Breakdown
| Period | Sales | Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||
| Q4 2025 | 19 | $1,451,145 |
| Q3 2025 | 17 | $1,485,882 |
| Q2 2025 | 29 | $1,439,390 |
| Q1 2025 | 22 | $1,923,250 |
| 2024 | ||
| Q4 2024 | 21 | $1,448,186 |
| Q3 2024 | 16 | $1,362,322 |
| Q2 2024 | 29 | $1,309,336 |
| Q1 2024 | 23 | $1,645,374 |
| 2023 | ||
| Q4 2023 | 23 | $1,368,306 |
| Q3 2023 | 33 | $1,087,189 |
| Q2 2023 | 27 | $1,568,425 |
| Q1 2023 | 24 | $1,459,271 |
| 2022 | ||
| Q4 2022 | 16 | $1,396,501 |
| Q3 2022 | 17 | $1,675,529 |
| Q2 2022 | 26 | $1,795,962 |
| Q1 2022 | 34 | $1,677,784 |
| 2021 | ||
| Q4 2021 | 32 | $1,493,138 |
| Q3 2021 | 31 | $1,339,994 |
| Q2 2021 | 62 | $1,136,972 |
| Q1 2021 | 43 | $1,121,487 |
| 2020 | ||
| Q4 2020 | 46 | $1,157,555 |
| Q3 2020 | 45 | $1,087,381 |
| Q2 2020 | 32 | $997,129 |
| Q1 2020 | 26 | $889,312 |
| 2019 | ||
| Q4 2019 | 26 | $871,846 |
| Q3 2019 | 22 | $789,909 |
| Q2 2019 | 46 | $773,290 |
| Q1 2019 | 29 | $985,567 |
| 2018 | ||
| Q4 2018 | 17 | $1,076,807 |
| Q3 2018 | 20 | $834,650 |
| Q2 2018 | 26 | $927,909 |
| Q1 2018 | 27 | $874,398 |
| 2017 | ||
| Q4 2017 | 29 | $818,168 |
| Q3 2017 | 18 | $952,500 |
| Q2 2017 | 37 | $870,157 |
| Q1 2017 | 23 | $813,835 |
Map of Carefree
Map of Carefree
Carefree Homes for Sale
MLS IDX Listing Disclosure © 2026
Copyright 2026 Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved. Information Not Guaranteed and Must Be Confirmed by End User. Site contains live data.
