Call us crazy, but we like Arizona in the summer! Our first stay at this house was for two weeks in July 2014, and when we decided on another visit to the Fountain Hills/Scottsdale area this summer, there was no doubt that we wanted to return to Darren's house.
We are a retired couple with family in the immediate area. This house is perfectly set up for low-key family entertaining. It has a generously sized kitchen, which opens onto the patio & pool area and is a natural gathering place. The kitchen is well stocked with all the typical glassware, pots and pans, knives, etc., and there is also a pantry closet that is full of spices, foil, plastic wrap, and most of the other things we would find in our own kitchen at home. There is a semi-formal dining room, a large family/living room, and a very impressive master bedroom suite (up a wide flight of stairs with double doors at the top, and separated from the rest of the house). The other two bedrooms aren't terribly large - one would be fine for an adult couple, but the other is on the small side and would be best for kids.
I would rate the back yard as about an 8 out of 10 for privacy. The pool itself is totally private, but once you are in the patio area there are a few spots where you can see the neighbors and vice versa. The patio area is done completely in natural stone (the real stuff), and is highlighted by a new built-in BBQ and L-shaped counter.
One thing that takes a little getting used to is that there is no key to the house for renters. Access to the house is via either a numeric keypad at the garage door, or the garage door opener for your car that will be waiting for you on the kitchen counter. It's a good system that never let us down, but I'm not sure what the backup plan is if there should be a power outage while away from the house.
Overall, this house is a great deal. The owner is very easy to deal with, and answers all messages promptly. Fountain hills is a very nice neighborhood, quiet and calm but close to all the big city amenities. We like it so much that during this last trip we actually bought a house nearby.