We went house hunting across North Central, Biltmore, and Arcadia for the most expensive homes in The Upper Middle.
The result is quite a tour.
There’s a $24 million piece of Camelback Mountain history, a nearly 13,000-square-foot Arcadia estate, Biltmore homes surrounded by mountain and golf-course views, and North Central properties sitting on the kind of large, irrigated lots that are increasingly difficult to find in the middle of Phoenix.
Here are 12 of the most expensive homes we found currently for sale across The Upper Middle as of September 13, 2026.
Listings, prices and availability change frequently. Information reflects publicly available listing data at the time of publication.
ARCADIA
Arcadia wins the price contest, and frankly, it isn’t particularly close.
1. 5500 N. Dromedary Road | $24,000,000
85018 | 4,641 square feet | 23.66 acres
Yes, $24 million.
Longtime Phoenicians may know this one without ever having stepped inside. It’s the famous “Merry Christmas” house perched high on the south slope of Camelback Mountain.
The existing midcentury home dates to the 1950s, but the extraordinary part of this listing is the land: nearly 24 acres overlooking the Valley.
According to the listing, the property could potentially be divided into as many as four parcels, developed as a family compound or preserved largely as it exists today.
It was originally listed at $30 million in 2024. The current asking price is $24 million.
So technically, you could say it’s on sale.
2. 4704 N. 56th Street | $12,950,000
85018 | 7 bedrooms | 7.5 bathrooms | approximately 8,900 square feet
From $24 million, we drop all the way down to a mere $12.95 million.
This contemporary estate near the base of Camelback Mountain is designed around indoor-outdoor living and Valley views.
The home includes an elevator, sauna, cold plunge, steam shower, detached guest casita and gym space.
And then there’s the kitchen.
The island alone stretches approximately 26 feet.
At that point, we’re not entirely sure it’s still an island. It may qualify as a peninsula.
3. 5402 E. Exeter Boulevard | $10,995,900
85018 | 6 bedrooms | 8 bathrooms | 12,996 square feet
If you know Arcadia, the address probably tells you something already.
Exeter Boulevard.
This Mark Candelaria-designed estate offers nearly 13,000 square feet on a roughly 34,770-square-foot corner lot.
The home includes six ensuite bedrooms, an executive office, game room and bar, plus extensive indoor-outdoor entertaining space.
Outside are a diving pool and spa, fireplace, pizza oven, barbecue area and half sports court.
And the primary closet is approximately 700 square feet.
For perspective, there are perfectly respectable apartments smaller than that.
4. 4425 N. Arcadia Lane | $10,495,000
85018 | 7 bedrooms | 8.5 bathrooms | 8,900 square feet
Another eight-figure Arcadia property rounds out our four.
This gated estate sits on nearly 1.5 acres and feels more like a private resort than a house in the middle of the city.
The grounds include a pool, full-size Jacuzzi, infrared sauna, lighted tennis court and private putting green, all framed by Camelback Mountain views.
The property was listed at $12.7 million in 2025 and recently dropped to $10.495 million.
Again: sale!
BILTMORE
Arcadia may win on sheer price, but Biltmore offers something different: guard-gated communities, golf, mountain views and lock-and-leave luxury within minutes of some of the city’s best shopping and dining.
5. 84 Biltmore Estates | $4,500,000
85016 | 6 bedrooms | 5.5 bathrooms | 7,073 square feet
The address says pretty much everything you need to know.
Located within Biltmore Estates, this six-bedroom residence offers more than 7,000 square feet in one of Phoenix’s most recognizable luxury communities.
At $4.5 million, it currently sits among the highest-priced residential listings we found in the heart of the Biltmore neighborhood.
And after spending a few minutes looking at Arcadia prices, $4.5 million somehow starts sounding reasonable.
That’s probably a sign we should keep moving.
6. 6511 N. 28th Street | $2,600,000
85016 | 3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | 4,325 square feet
This guard-gated Biltmore residence comes with the feature Arizona buyers never seem to tire of:
the views.
Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, city lights and desert sunsets all surround the property.
Inside, soaring ceilings, large windows, a grand staircase, fireplace and expansive living areas take advantage of the setting.
It’s a very different version of luxury from Arcadia’s sprawling estates, and quintessentially Biltmore.
7. 3101 E. Sierra Madre Way | $2,099,000
85016 | 3 bedrooms | 3.5 bathrooms | 2,879 square feet
At just over $2 million, this Biltmore-area residence offers three bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and nearly 2,900 square feet.
The appeal here is less about sheer size and more about location.
You’re tucked into one of the city’s premier residential areas with the Arizona Biltmore, golf, restaurants and Biltmore Fashion Park all nearby.
Sometimes luxury is having 13,000 square feet.
Sometimes it’s not having to drive 25 minutes to dinner.
8. 6417 N. 27th Street | $1,995,000
85016 | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms | 3,008 square feet
Coming in just under $2 million is this approximately 3,000-square-foot Biltmore-area home.
Three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a location surrounded by some of the city’s most established luxury communities put it among the higher-end current offerings in the neighborhood.
And yes, we’ve officially reached the point in this article where $1.995 million qualifies as the inexpensive one.
NORTH CENTRAL PHOENIX
North Central plays a completely different game.
Here, the luxury isn’t necessarily about being perched on a mountain. It’s about land, mature trees, irrigated lots, established neighborhoods and being “between the 7s.”
And some of these properties have a surprising amount of it.
9. 32 W. Linger Lane | $4,250,000
85021 | 6 bedrooms | 7.5 bathrooms | 6,129 square feet
At $4.25 million, this new-construction home is one of the priciest current residential listings we found in North Central Phoenix.
It offers more than 6,100 square feet, six bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, flood irrigation and a detached casita.
It’s also a good example of what’s happening in parts of North Central: large traditional lots being paired with completely new luxury construction.
Old Phoenix location. Very new Phoenix house.
10. 550 W. Berridge Lane | $3,375,000
85013 | 7 bedrooms | 6 bathrooms | 5,364 square feet
This is the kind of property that explains why people get so attached to North Central Phoenix.
The estate sits on nearly 1.1 irrigated acres in the Orangewood neighborhood, surrounded by mature shade trees, citrus and established landscaping.
The home retains its ranch character while incorporating years of renovations, including an updated kitchen, custom cabinetry and high-end appliances.
There’s also a detached guest house.
Arcadia has Camelback Mountain.
North Central has acre lots with giant trees.
We’ll call it a draw.
11. 525 W. Lamar Road | $2,650,000
85013 | 6 bedrooms | 3.5 bathrooms | 4,302 square feet
This modern residence sits on Lamar Road, a small cul-de-sac enclave of just 17 homes.
Reimagined in 2022, the property combines approximately 4,000 square feet in the main residence with a detached casita.
Inside you’ll find clean architectural lines, walls of glass, custom walnut cabinetry and large doors connecting the interior with the backyard.
It’s modern without losing the thing people pay a premium for in North Central: the neighborhood.
12. 627 W. Palmaire Avenue | $2,300,000
85021 | 5 bedrooms | 4.5 bathrooms | 4,167 square feet
Rounding out our tour is this five-bedroom North Central property asking $2.3 million.
With more than 4,100 square feet, the home sits in the tree-lined residential core that has made this part of Phoenix one of the Valley’s most enduringly desirable places to live.
And after starting this list at $24 million, $2.3 million almost feels downright responsible.
Almost.
Three Neighborhoods. Three Very Different Versions of Luxury.
That’s probably our biggest takeaway from going through these listings.
Arcadia dominates the ultra-luxury end of the market, with Camelback Mountain, enormous estates and multiple eight-figure asking prices.
Biltmore offers a more resort-oriented version of luxury, with gated communities, mountain views, golf and lock-and-leave living.
And North Central Phoenix delivers something increasingly difficult to reproduce: large lots, flood irrigation, mature trees and established neighborhoods in the middle of the city.
Different houses. Different lifestyles.
All unmistakably The Upper Middle.
And if looking at a $24 million house made you feel slightly financially inadequate, don’t worry.
We have another idea:
What $1 Million Buys You in The Upper Middle.
Although after researching this article, we’re a little nervous to find out.
Looking to sell or buy a home, contact Will Carter with The Will Carter Team today!
Will Carter – Arizona Top Realtor
