Desert Ridge a hot spot for state land auctions, with more on the way

Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on March 13, 2026

The Desert Ridge area north of Paradise Valley has turned into a hot spot for developers wanting to scoop up prime state-owned land in recent years.

One of the highest-priced state land auctions last year happened when Mortenson outbid Verde Investments for over 200 acres in the area, spending $136 million for a site now planned to become a new Arizona Cardinals training campus.

And major national homebuilders turned out to bid on about 53 acres of residential land by the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, with K. Hovnanian Homes ultimately placing the winning bid of $71 million – up from a starting price of $37.75 million.

The next big auction for Desert Ridge land is happening April 30, when the Arizona State Land Department will sell off about 293.5 acres on Deer Valley Road and 40th Street. The starting bid is $108.3 million.

The property is just across the street from Desert Ridge Marketplace and zoned by the city of Phoenix for multifamily residential, with varying densities allowed throughout the site.

AZ18 LLC – an entity tracing to Michael Lieb – submitted the application triggering the auction. Lieb is president and CEO of Phoenix-based Michael A Lieb Ltd, and known in the Valley as the “infill king.”

Lieb declined to comment for this story.

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