Are you moving to Arizona? Considering one of the Arizona 55-plus communities? Let’s learn about Sun Lakes, AZ. It is one of the 55-plus communities in the east valley AZ. Whether you are looking for the best place in Arizona to retire or just information on  55+ Active adult communities in the area, this blog is for you! Let’s look at the overall rundown of the exact life here in Sun Lakes!

 

LOCATION

Sun Lakes is located on the southern borders of the east valley, just west of Arizona Avenue, north of Hunt Highway, and south of Queen Creek Road. It is about 3 miles east of the I-10 freeway and 5 miles south of the 202 Freeway. It is 24 miles southeast of Phoenix and is 30 minutes away from 2 airports. Including the freeways for easy access to the valley, Costco, and the Chandler Fashion Center, it is 15 minutes north. It is approximately 5-10 minutes from the hospital. It is close to the Firebird International Raceway, Casinos, Rawhide (1800; ‘s old West town), and health care providers. It even has a college campus from Gilbert Chandler Community College. Two other 55+ communities are just east of the community, and all the support facilities to service them are in the immediate area. You will never run out of places to eat, shop, or golf.

 

LIFESTYLE

Sun Lakes provides a vacation lifestyle resort-like living. It has several gated communities and 5 country club communities. It was established in 1972 by Ed Robson, who purchased 2,560 acres of farmland to compete with Sun City. Building continued through 2006. Just under 15,000 people live here within a 5.4 miles area. There are 6,683 homes. This is the only adult community that is 40+, versus the typical 55+ age. Even so, 95% are over 55 years old and 40% above 75, with a median age of 73. 55% female to 45% male. The crime rate is 34% lower than the national average. The cost of living is 15% higher than the US average and about 13% higher than the Arizona average. Many employment opportunities within 20 minutes of Sun Lakes include American Express, Intel Corporation, and Honeywell.

 

Sun Lakes consists of 5 communities and includes single-family detached, attached, and manufactured homes:

  • Sun Lakes (a non-gated community surrounded by Sun Lakes Boulevard) has 2139 homes built in the 1970 – the oldest
  • Cottonwood – 2736 homes built in the 1980s and include both single-family and Villa homes (duplexes)
  • Palo Verde is the first gated community, with 1073 homes built in the 1980s and 1990s. It has access to Cottonwoods facilities.
  • IronOaks – Ironwood Country Club was built in the 1990s. It is the second gated community.
  • Oakwood Country Club is the newest community with single-family and Villa style homes. These two communities have 734 homes.

 

All the communities have access to the Sun Lakes community facilities. HOA fees range from $1300-$2,400 annually. Golf course: Ironwood and Oakwood golf courses are open to the public, and homeowners receive preferred reservation times. For snowbirds, you can buy seasonal passes. You do not have to purchase an annual membership.

There is so much going on all the time. Year-round golf at Four 18-hole golf courses, Three 9-hole, 5 clubhouses, cafes, restaurants, 7 tennis courts, hot tubs, billiards, pools, spa, saunas, tennis, pickleball courts, fitness center, Zumba, ballroom, clubs like photography, computers and theater, bridge, bunco, and more. You also have the area fishing lakes, Sunset Grill, Mulligan’s bar, and lounge. Residents claim it is the best active adult community in the valley. It has HOA-sponsored events, such as bus trips to professional sporting events and surrounding cities.

 

HOUSING

Manufactured homes range from $229,000 for a 960 sf, a 2-bedroom house built in 1980, to a 1777 sf house on the golf course with 2 bedrooms, built-in 1979 for $399,900.

Single Family Homes range in style. There is a Ranch style with composition shingle roofing and a Spanish style with tile roofing. This is one of the reasons for the large value range. Prices vary primarily from $285,000 to $2,560,000. There is one currently available for $14,600,000. The $285,000 house is an 1115 sf home built in 1984sf with a 2-car garage and 2 bedrooms. Some additional examples include a Spanish-style home built in 1987 with 1823 sf, 3 bedrooms, and a 2-car garage is $440,000. A 2076 sf house built in 2003 has 2 bedrooms and a 2-car garage in Sun Lakes for $555,000. It is in a gated community. And finally, there is a 22,868sf house built in 2009 in the gated subdivision of Oakwood on a 1.6-acre golf course/lake lot for $14,600,000.

And the last category is the villas and attached units. There is a 1380 sf attached house with a 2-car garage and 2 bedrooms built in 1981 for $344,000. To a 1573 sf house built in 1999 with a 2-car garage and 2 bedrooms for $425,000. Most of the lots are 2500-4500 SF.

If you were looking to rent in the area, prices vary greatly depending on the length of stay and view. Most of the current units are seasonal rates ranging from $1800 to $3500. Some run as high as $5,000/month. One house is available for long-term rent for $2,400 per month. It is an 1841 sf house built in 2001 with 2 bedrooms and a 2-car garage.

 

If you should have any additional questions about Sun Lakes, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask at 480-226-1925.