$564,956Average Value$339Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
Desert Aire is a golf course community with modern amenities
With a name like Desert Aire, it's no surprise this is one of Washington's warmest, driest areas. This fly-in, golf course community offers a masterclass of amenities along the Columbia River. While golf cart-friendly streets are bustling on this side of the river, the other side is painted by sandstone cliffs and mountains, providing scenic landscape views. With amenities like a boat launch and off-roading areas, Desert Aire is a place for the quiet life out in nature. "The landscape is absolutely gorgeous, and we're 45 minutes away from everything," says Melinda Skogerson, community expert at R1 Washington, who has lived in Desert Aire for over 20 years. "People come here because we have a warmer climate on the Columbia River with massive amounts of fishing, hiking and water sports. There's everything you could want."
Priest Rapids Recreation Area offers a public boat launch.
Corner shops carry everyday items across Desert Aire.
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Newer homes on half-acre lots in the warm Washington desert
Many houses sit on half-acre lots surrounded by dry shrublands. Some properties are mostly gravel, while others have planted lawns on the edge of the Desert Aire Golf Club. Many properties also border the Desert Aire Airport, and residents may have private hangars for small planes and helicopters. This community has New Traditional, contemporary and ranch-style architecture. Many homes were built after 2010, typically spanning 1,000 to 2,500 square feet. The Desert Aire Owners Association is a homeowners' association that may require monthly fees. Single-family home prices range from $400,000 to $850,000. However, airport homes with hangars may reach up to $1.3 million. Manufactured homes go for $280,000 to $630,000. "We have a huge diversity of homes on half-acre lots," Skogerson says. "They start at $399,000 near the golf course, and some get into the millions."
Because of the topography, agriculture and wildfires, ozone buildup contributes to poor air quality during the summer. While parts of Grant County have issued evacuation orders for wildfires, they rarely cause property damage. Average summer temperatures are in the low 90s during July, occasionally reaching triple digits. "It can get up to 110 degrees, but it's also very tolerable," Skogerson says. "Everybody knows when it's warm, you make use of it and float on the river."
Custom homes appear often in Desert Aire’s newer neighborhoods.
Many homes sit on half‑acre lots by Desert Aire Golf Club.
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Golf club amenities and off-roading areas with river views
One community highlight is the Desert Aire Golf Club, with an 18-hole course that offers green fairways and river views below the White Bluffs. "Our golf course has a view of the mountains," Skogerson says. "Our golf demographic is huge, and everyone likes to drive around the community in golf carts." Desert Aire Park has a fitness facility and a swimming pool. Residents can camp near the rocky shores of the Priest Rapids Recreation Area, which has swimming holes, a walking trail and a boat launch on the river. "Our boat launch is gorgeous. Practically everyone has a boat of some kind," Skogerson says. The Beverly Dunes is an off-roading area with sand-dune campgrounds about 10 miles north. Formerly an area with nuclear reactors, Hansford Reach National Monument spans 195,000 acres with sandy trails and wildlife in the Saddle Mountains.
Desert Aire Golf Club offers 18-holes with river views.
Priest Rapids Recreation Area offers swimming holes and campsites.
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STEAM, sports and trade education
Morris Schott STEAM Elementary School earns a C-minus grade from Niche, with science and technology-oriented classes and an incentive-based reward system. Wahluke Junior High School also has a C-minus, with team sports like softball, wrestling and football. Wahluke High School receives a C grade, with career-oriented courses in subjects such as agriculture and marketing.
Wahluke High School offers career‑focused courses in agriculture.
Morris Schott STEAM Elementary emphasizes science and technology.
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Local taverns and small businesses within reach
Desert Aire has limited shopping and dining, but unique community establishments are within reach. One of its watering holes is Tumbleweeds Bar and Grill, which serves cheeseburgers in a sports bar with patio seating. The R Place Tavern is another pub serving lunch dishes and locally sourced wines. Desert Aire Grocery has grocery items and produce, while Lep-Re-Kon Harvest Foods is a supermarket chain in Mattawa, about 5 miles north.
Feathered Brew Coffee Shop serves espresso for locals in Desert Aire.
Tumbleweeds Bar and Grill serves American food in Desert Aire with a sports-bar vibe.
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SR-243 to the Tri-Cities and Seattle
Grant Transit Authority (GTA) is a local bus system providing fixed transportation routes throughout Grant County. State Route 243 is a local thoroughfare leading to nearby cities. Seattle is about 160 miles northwest on SR-243, and Richland is around 50 miles southeast. The Tri-Cities Airport is approximately 60 miles southeast, offering passenger flights in Pasco.
SR‑243 signage marks the route through Desert Aire.
SR‑243 links Desert Aire to Mattawa and the Tri‑Cities.
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Written By
Jackson Hardy
Photography Contributed By
Alex Finneran
Video By
Anne Sheridan
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kevin Burgess,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Desert Aire, WA sell after 159 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Desert Aire, WA over the last 12 months is $536,180, up 67% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
MLS# 289023 Rare opportunity to own 12.32 acres in the sunny Desert Aire community. Currently planted in mature cherry trees, this level, irrigated property offers excellent potential as a productive hobby farm, private estate, or custom homesite. The land features easy access and a flexible layoutsuitable for continued orchard use, livestock, or residential development. Enjoy the peace and
MLS# 289021 Rare opportunity to own 51.41 acres of highly productive orchard ground in the sunny Desert Aire community. The site is currently planted in 30.40 acres of Tieton and 11.50 acres of Chelan cherries, the rest is open irrigable ground. Irrigation is available through SCBID. Water is stored in a retention pond near the center of the site. The wide-open layout allows flexibility for
MLS# 289022 Rare opportunity to own 20.60 acres in the sunny Desert Aire community. Currently planted in mature cherry trees, this level, irrigated property offers excellent potential as a productive hobby farm, private estate, or custom homesite. The land features easy access and a flexible layoutsuitable for continued orchard use, livestock, or residential development. Enjoy the peace and
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
