“I was born and raised in Arizona and have been a Suns fan my entire life.”
That history matters to Katrina Barrett. The Phoenix Suns are not simply a new name in her portfolio. They are part of the Arizona story she has been living, supporting and selling for years.
“As an early member of the Ra Ra Room, I was drawn to the entrepreneurial energy surrounding the Suns and the organization’s larger vision for Phoenix beyond basketball.”
As the Valley dives into basketball season, esteemed Valley realtor Katrina Barrett, owner of Local Luxury | Christie’s International Real Estate, is excited to be a proud partner of the Phoenix Suns, helping members of the Suns community and their families make the Valley home.
“I regularly work with athletes and their families, whose moves often involve demanding schedules, privacy and security concerns and multiple advisors. My role is to manage those layers quietly, protect their interests and make the transition to Arizona easier. This is someone’s life, not simply a real estate transaction,” she says.
“Every client is different, so we build the experience around their needs. I bring trusted relationships, immediate responsiveness and a full-service team that can include attorneys, public relations professionals, a sprucer and even a Sprinter van with a driver. When something unexpected happens, we solve it quickly and creatively. My job is to remove friction.”
The partnership comes as Katrina is already pushing Arizona luxury real estate into new territory.
After representing the $40.238 million sale that established a new residential record for the state, she is bringing a $55 million Paradise Valley estate to market.
Located at5738 N. Casa Blanca Drive, the residence spans 23,417 square feet across 2.48 acres within the coveted Casa Blanca and Wilkinson corridor. It includes six bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a separate guest house and nine-car enclosed garage, with four spaces in the main garage and an additional five-car secondary garage.
“At this level, buyers aren’t impressed by a long list of expensive finishes,” Katrina says. “They expect that. The house has to be truly special and very difficult to replicate.”
The owners invested $15 million into redesigning the estate with Regal American Homes, Jaimee Rose Interiors and Berghoff Design Group.
Katrina sees the sun-drenched elegance of the South of France, the warmth of Old World Italy, and playful bursts of color reminiscent of Portugal and Croatia.
“It captures the feeling of having traveled well and bringing those experiences home,” she says.
A central courtyard connects the interiors to expansive outdoor spaces and views of Camelback Mountain, Praying Monk and Mummy Mountain. Inside, a hidden door opens to a private speakeasy. The chef’s kitchen includes a concealed bar, walk-in pantry, walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer and a dedicated Costco room designed for serious entertaining.
The wellness wing functions like a private retreat, with a red-light sauna, dry sauna, cold plunge and Bali-inspired spa area. A separate gym, massage room and traditional sauna add space for training and recovery without leaving home.
Beneath the estate, a substantial concrete safe room and bunker introduce an unexpected element of privacy and security. The secure space connects to a hidden lower-level retreat featuring a private shooting range, lounge and bar, creating one of the property's most distinctive and unexpected amenities.
Then there is “The Shed,” a recreation barn with an indoor pickleball and sports court, golf simulator and glass-enclosed lounge. The estate also includes a movie theater, children’s lounge, art room and study spaces.
The separate two-bedroom guest house has its own full kitchen, 48-inch range and laundry, allowing family members or long-term guests to maintain complete privacy.
“For collectors, the property offers nine enclosed garage spaces with approximately 14 feet of clearance, along with a drive-through bay designed for an RV or Sprinter van,” Katrina adds.
Outside, 100-year-old olive, citrus and oak trees surround lush gardens, walking paths, fireplaces and multiple gathering areas. A massive heated diving pool includes a signature metallic slide with its own cooling system, a feature created specifically for the Arizona climate.
“The personality of the house is what photographs and specifications can’t fully capture. You turn a corner and see an incredible light fixture, a piece of stone, wallpaper, or a custom detail that you completely missed the first time.”
The ideal buyer is likely someone who already owns exceptional properties and has no practical need for another residence.
“It’s someone who could buy a home anywhere,” Katrina says. “They don’t need another house. They need to see something that feels special enough that they want to own it.”
According to Katrina, that buyer may already have homes in Beverly Hills, Aspen, Miami or New York.
“Paradise Valley is no longer competing only within Arizona. Its most significant estates are now being evaluated beside properties in the country’s most established luxury markets.”
The buyers have arrived. The challenge has been giving them something worth purchasing.
“I’ve had buyers ready to spend $30 million, $40 million and more who simply couldn’t find the right house,” Katrina says. “At this level, having the money isn’t the issue. Finding something they believe is worth buying is the issue.”
The $40.238 million sale established an important new benchmark. It proved a buyer would complete an Arizona residential transaction above $40 million.
The new listing poses a larger question: Has Paradise Valley’s luxury ceiling moved again?
Katrina believes it has.
She evaluates value through the scarcity of the property, the quality of the finished residence and what it would cost in both money and time to reproduce it. For a buyer at this level, a completed estate with mature landscaping, custom design and highly specialized spaces can offer something new construction cannot: immediacy.
“The $40.238 million sale gave us a new data point for Arizona, but I already knew there were buyers interested in buying a home at that level because I have been working with them,” she says.
What is changing now is the inventory.
“Nationally recognized designers are entering the market, architecture is becoming more sophisticated and developers are taking greater risks. We are seeing that firsthand in our work with the incredible team at Sandbar Development, who are bringing multiple Paradise Valley properties to market in the $50 million-plus range. The homes are catching up with the buyers.”
For Katrina, the new listing and working with the Suns may appear to occupy different worlds. One centers on an extraordinary private estate. The other places her alongside one of Arizona’s most recognizable organizations.
Both, however, allow her to do the same thing: introduce more people to the opportunities unfolding in the Valley.
“I’m excited to protect and serve my clients’ real estate interests while connecting people, businesses and ideas that can help move our area forward. That is what’s most meaningful to me.”
katrinabarrett.com