- County
- Maricopa County (incorporated city)
- Getting around
- Loop 101, Loop 303, US-60 (Grand Avenue), Northern Parkway
- Well-known communities
- Catlin Court Historic District, Historic Downtown Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Westgate area
- HOAs
- Older central neighborhoods often have no HOA; Arrowhead Ranch and most newer subdivisions do.
Glendale in brief
Glendale grew out of the farmland watered by the Arizona Canal, which William John Murphy completed in 1885. Murphy's Arizona Improvement Company named the land Glendale in 1887 and platted the townsite in 1895. Over the next century the city spread west across former fields, and Loop 101 opened it to the rest of the Valley.
Today the city stretches a long way from east to west, which is why two Glendale homes can feel like different places. The historic core around downtown has older streets and mature trees. North Glendale grew up around Arrowhead Ranch, a former citrus farm bought for development in 1978, and Arrowhead Towne Center, which opened in 1993. West Glendale, near Loop 101 and out toward Loop 303, holds the sports and entertainment district and newer neighborhoods. Luke Air Force Base, which began as Luke Field in 1941, sits on the city's west side.
Sports, entertainment and landmarks
- State Farm Stadium is home to the Arizona Cardinals and the Fiesta Bowl, and it has hosted Super Bowls and the NCAA Final Four.
- Desert Diamond Arena is city-owned and hosts the Arizona Rattlers and concerts.
- Westgate Entertainment District sits next to the stadium with restaurants, shops and events.
- Camelback Ranch-Glendale is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.
- Historic downtown Glendale pairs Catlin Court's specialty shops with Old Towne's eateries and storefronts.
- Sahuaro Ranch and Manistee Ranch are historic ranch sites, and the Cerreta Candy Co. factory offers tours.
- Adobe Mountain Desert Park and the Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden add outdoor spaces to visit.
Housing stock by era
Historic homes
The Catlin Court Historic District, near 58th and 59th avenues downtown, was subdivided in 1914 and is known for bungalows. It was the first of several Glendale districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in 1992. Many of its bungalows have been turned into specialty shops.
Mid-century and ranch-style neighborhoods
Central Glendale has large areas of block and frame ranch homes from the postwar decades, often on irrigated lots with mature shade trees.
Arrowhead Ranch and north Glendale
Arrowhead Ranch was a citrus farm until it was purchased for development in 1978 and annexed by Glendale in 1979. Its neighborhoods surround Arrowhead Towne Center, so most of the homes here were built in the decades after annexation, generally newer than the central city.
West Glendale
The west side near Westgate and Loop 101 includes 1990s and 2000s subdivisions, plus newer construction toward the Loop 303 corridor.
Things Glendale buyers should check
- Which utility serves the home. Glendale is split between APS and SRP for electricity, and the city supplies most drinking water, with EPCOR serving parts of the Loop 303 area. Utility rates differ by provider, so confirm before you budget.
- HOA or no HOA. Older central neighborhoods often have no HOA. Arrowhead Ranch and most newer subdivisions do. Read the CC&Rs and confirm the dues.
- Irrigation. In the historic part of the city, the city runs irrigation for some neighborhoods. If a home has flood irrigation, ask how the schedule and fees work.
- Older home systems. For pre-1980 homes, ask about the electrical panel, plumbing materials, sewer line and roof age, and consider a sewer scope.
- Solar and pools. Find out whether solar is owned or leased, and inspect pool equipment separately.
- Event traffic and flight paths. Homes near Westgate see game-day crowds, and homes on the west side are close to Luke Air Force Base, so drive by at different times.
Teigh's buyer representation includes inspections and negotiation through closing.
Freeways and commuting
Loop 101 is the main freeway through Glendale, running north-south through the west side past State Farm Stadium. Loop 303 crosses the far west edge of the city and was completed in 2011. US-60 (Grand Avenue) cuts diagonally through the city toward downtown Phoenix and out to Surprise. Glendale Avenue, Northern Avenue and Bell Road carry most east-west traffic, and Northern Parkway is a newer limited-access route on the west side.
School districts in Glendale
Glendale is served by several districts, including Glendale Elementary School District, Glendale Union High School District, Peoria Unified School District (headquartered in Glendale), Deer Valley Unified School District and Dysart Unified School District. Other elementary districts serve smaller pockets. Because district lines cross the city in complicated ways, always confirm the assigned schools for a specific address directly with the district.
Selling in Glendale
Glendale buyers often compare an older central home against a newer one a few miles west, so a listing should make its strengths obvious. Expect questions about the roof, AC age, electrical and plumbing updates on older homes, HOA dues on newer ones, solar ownership and pool equipment. If your home is in or near a historic district, buyers will ask whether there are design guidelines that affect exterior changes.
Clean, well-staged rooms help either kind of home photograph well. Teigh offers staging consultations and hands-on staging and includes staging help for her listing clients; learn more on the staging page. She prices with a comparative market analysis and does not promise a sale price or a timeline.
Working with Teigh in Glendale
Teigh Wade is a West Valley native and a REALTOR® with HomeSmart Elite Group, HomeSmart. She has spent most of her life in this part of the Valley, Glendale included, and she offers mobile consultations at your home.
Planning a sale? See her listing services and request a comparative market analysis. Looking to buy instead? Learn how she works with buyers, use the MLS search to browse Glendale homes, and check Teigh's current listings.
Glendale appointments are also covered by Teigh's traveling notary work. Teigh's phone and text line is 480-550-2871.
Frequently asked questions
Does Glendale have APS or SRP?
Both. Glendale is split between Arizona Public Service (APS) and Salt River Project (SRP) for electric service, with SRP covering areas east of the New River. The provider depends on the address, so check before you budget utility costs. The City of Glendale supplies most drinking water, and EPCOR serves parts of the Loop 303 area.
What is Catlin Court in Glendale?
Catlin Court is a historic district in downtown Glendale that was subdivided in 1914 and is known for its bungalows. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 and expanded in 2007. Many of the old bungalows now hold specialty shops, part of the historic downtown area.
Where is Arrowhead Ranch?
Arrowhead Ranch is in north Glendale around Arrowhead Towne Center, which opened in 1993, near Loop 101 and Bell Road. The land was a citrus farm until it was bought for development in 1978 and annexed by Glendale in 1979, so its homes are newer than those in central Glendale. Most Arrowhead Ranch neighborhoods have HOAs.
Which freeways run through Glendale?
Loop 101 runs north-south through west Glendale past State Farm Stadium. Loop 303 crosses the far west edge of the city. US-60 (Grand Avenue) runs diagonally toward downtown Phoenix. Northern Parkway, Glendale Avenue and Bell Road handle much of the east-west traffic.
Which school districts serve Glendale?
Several. They include Glendale Elementary, Glendale Union High, Peoria Unified, Deer Valley Unified and Dysart Unified school districts, plus other elementary districts in smaller areas. Boundaries cross the city in complex ways, so confirm the assigned schools for a specific address directly with the district.
Where is spring training in Glendale?
Camelback Ranch-Glendale is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. The city owns and operates the complex, which opened for spring training in 2009. State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena are nearby in the Westgate area.
Do older Glendale homes have HOAs?
Many older central Glendale neighborhoods do not have an HOA, while most newer subdivisions, including those in Arrowhead Ranch and west Glendale, do. Some older areas have city irrigation or historic district guidelines instead. Teigh checks the HOA and any other restrictions as part of your due diligence.
How do I find out what my Glendale home is worth?
Request a comparative market analysis. Glendale values vary widely between historic, mid-century and newer neighborhoods, so a citywide figure is not useful. Teigh looks at recent sales and current competition close to your home, then walks you through the numbers in person or by phone with no obligation.