Are you headed to Arizona to live in a 55+ community and wonder what it would be like? In this episode of The Great Escape, I’m going to welcome you to Mesa, Arizona’s guard-gated community of Fountain of the Sun, an amazing area with so much to offer. We’ll look at the community’s amenities and housing prices so you’ll know exactly what to expect when you get here.

Centrally Located In Mesa, Arizona

The Fountain of the Sun community is located in East Mesa, about a mile north of the I-60 freeway, a mile east of Power Road, and a half-mile west of the 202 Freeway. This central location provides easy access to the valley.

For example, Costco is just one mile southwest on Sossaman Road near the Superstition Freeway. Additionally, Superstition Springs Center Mall is approximately 1.5 miles southwest. Banner Baywood Medical Center and Hospital is 1.5 miles west, and it’s surrounded by other 55+ communities and all the support facilities to serve them. You’ll never run out of places to eat, shop or golf.

If you want to get out of town, the airport is located approximately 30 miles west and the Phoenix-Mesa gateway airport is about 15 to 20 miles south.

The Lifestyle

This community tends to attract people who just want to have fun. There is so much going on all the time, and there never seems to be a friendlier community. When you drive through the guard gate, the road is lined with palm trees. Inside, you’re going to find a semi-private, 18-hole executive golf course, a country club, and Birdies Bar & Grill.

There are plenty of activities offered, including the fitness center, pool, batting cage, billiards, yoga, game room, computer labs, crafts, and quilting—just to name a few of the 50 activities. There’s even a post office right in the community. The HOA fees are also very reasonable at $1,145 for the entire year.

Housing Options

Beginning in 1975, Fountain of the Sun was built on 582 acres of land that was originally a cotton farm. The original builder was UDC homes, and there are 2,300 units. These range from single-family site-built homes and manufactured homes to townhouses and condominiums.

Manufactured homes are typically about 1,100 to 1,900 square feet with a carport or garage. Townhouses are about 1,000 to 1,500 square feet with one or two bedrooms and an attached garage. Condo homes are normally 930 to 2,100 square feet, two or three bedrooms, and with an attached two-car garage.

If you’re looking to rent in the area, prices vary greatly depending on the length of stay and the view. Typically, they’re rented for the winter months and are furnished. They mostly range from 1,800 to 3,200 square feet and have a minimum of a 30-day stay.

Home Prices

The price of housing varies, so if you have any additional questions I can send you more detailed information. Here are some general pointers to get you started. Currently, the median site-built house in Fountain of the Sun is $335,000. A 993 square foot, two-bedroom, two-bath home built in 1980 with a two-car carport is approximately $265,000.

A fully remodeled and furnished 1,500 square foot home with a two-car garage built in 1980 is $375,000 and a 2,191 square foot, two-bedroom home with a three-car garage built in 1994 is $430,000. For manufactured homes, a 961 square foot house built in 1972 is approximately $125,000, while a 1979 1,344 square foot two-bedroom with a two-car carport is $245,000. A 2010 three-bedroom with a two-car carport is $390,000.

What about townhouses and condominiums? A one-bedroom, one-half bath 616 square foot home with a one-car carport is approximately $162,000. A two-bedroom, two-bath home is $230,000, while a 1,427 square foot two-bedroom, two-bath built in 1985 with a two-car garage is $351,000.

Make Fountain Of The Sun Your Home

I hope this gave you a good idea of everything that Fountain of the Sun has to offer. If you have any other questions about this or any other 55+ communities in the area, please feel free to reach out and I’d be happy to connect with you.

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