$15M Paradise Valley Spec Home Highlights Surge in Arizona's Ultra-Luxury Market

In the latest testament to Arizona’s booming luxury real estate scene, a $15 million luxury spec home has broken ground on 6232 E. Bret Hills Drive in Paradise Valley. Designed as a modern “jewel box” with panoramic views of Mummy Mountain, the estate is among five high-end spec developments currently in progress by developer and luxury appraiser J. Andrew Turley.

This new wave of development isn't just about opulence—it’s a reflection of a broader shift in the Valley’s place among the nation’s top-tier luxury real estate markets.

The Jewel of Bret Hills Drive

Set on a 1-acre cul-de-sac lot, the 8,600-square-foot estate has been carefully designed to combine sleek, contemporary living with warmth and function. According to Jill Brenenstuhl, partner at Retsy-Forbes Global Properties and the exclusive listing agent:

“It’s going to be a jewel box… more inviting than many contemporary properties that have been introduced to the market lately.”

Among its standout features:

Wellness center with a built-in infrared sauna
Collector’s car garage “man cave” with bar and lounge
Optional private pickleball court (available for early buyers)

The Team Behind the Vision

Developer: J. Andrew Turley
General Contractor: Diamond West Construction
Architect: Moderna Architects
Interior Designer: Dream Home Design
Landscape Architect: Levinson Studios

The project is expected to be completed by December 2024 or January 2025.

Homes with History: Former Owners Include MLB & NBA Stars

The Bret Hills property once belonged to former L.A. Dodgers pitcher Eric Gagné. Turley acquired it after a previous redevelopment attempt stalled and reimagined the vision entirely.

Turley’s other active projects also feature famous former owners, including:

A $6 million estate at 6748 E. Berneil Lane, previously owned by Phoenix Suns star Deandre Ayton. Originally conceptualized by renowned architect CP Drewitt, the home is undergoing a near full rebuild.
A $6 million modern estate at 39602 Charles Blair MacDonald Road, wrapping by June.
A $10 million golf course property at 9790 N. 56th St. in Paradise Valley.
A $6 million project at 5761 N. Echo Canyon Circle in Phoenix, slated for September or October completion.

Data Meets Design: Turley’s Appraiser-to-Developer Journey

Turley’s unique edge? His background as a luxury real estate appraiser.

“For me, it made a lot of sense logically,” he said. “I was doing all the back-end research… connecting the dots on what you paid for the land, the cost to build, Realtor fees, soft costs—then analyzing profit.”

His real estate journey began in 2006 in Mesa's Las Sendas community, inspired by a client’s success flipping custom homes. With a supportive push from his wife, they built their first ground-up spec home together.

Arizona’s ‘Watershed Moment’ in Luxury Real Estate

Turley believes the current surge is part of something bigger:

“Arizona is having a watershed moment… when you connect the dots—migration of the wealthy, lifestyle choices, hospitality, wellness, outdoor recreation—it’s all aligning.”

With unmatched growth in gated communities, resort-driven wellness, fine dining, and architectural innovation, Arizona is fast becoming a top-tier luxury destination.

He credits his success not only to data-driven decisions, but to a collaborative, creative process:

“It’s like a symphony of talented people… acquiring land and making it something epic. We’ll look back at the 2020s as the decade Arizona truly matured in luxury design, pricing, and prestige.”

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