The Sun Cities

August 31, 2011 by irenehammond

There are now 6 Sun Cities in and around the Valley of the Sun.

The first Sun City by Del Webb was one of the first Active Adult Communities in Arizona.. His first community in AZ was built in Tucson in 1948. Sun City in Surprise was opened in 1960. It had 25,000 people show up for the opening weekend! With 11 golf courses and 7 swimming pools and a club for every activity you can imagine, it grew to 26,000 homes in the 18 years before it was completed. Due to their proximity to the freeways and Phoenix itself, as well as the super low real estate taxes many of the homes today are being remodeled and updated.

Sun City was so successful that additional land was purchased and Sun City West evolved. It opened in 1978. Not quite the size of Sun City, but still boasting 9 golf courses and 6 pools. The expanded amenities and activities held the interest of the residents of its 17,000 homes.

Del Web expanded the theme of Active Adult Living to include shopping, churches and restaurants and even a hospital within the boundaries of the development. One needs to have only a golf cart for transportation. It took another 19 years, until 1997 for Del Webb to reach sell out of Sun City West.

In 1996 construction began on Sun City Grand just to the west and south of Sun City West, with Grand Avenue (Rt. 60) being a divider. This Active Adult Community was to have a greater range of home sizes. It was smaller with only 10,000 homes, 5 pools and 3 golf courses. The community was sold out in 2004.

Corte Bella was the last of the Sun Cities in the cluster forming the NW corner of the Phoenix Valley. It is considered part of Sun City West, although separated by walls. It is an upscale, private, gated golf course community with only 1600 homes and a single pool. The last new home was sold in 2007.

The 5^th Sun City is Sun City Festival, located about 30 miles west of Surprise and the 4 preceding Del Webb communities. It is just north and west of the White Tank Mountains. Del Webb has perfected the art of Active Adult Communities and this is reputed to be their best yet. Within a natural unspoiled desert environment, it is likened to the original Sun City 50 years ago. Sun City Festival will have 7200 homes, has one 18 hole golf course with another planned. The amenities are superb and commercial development is certain to follow. The project opened in 2006 and is expected to be built out by 2016. This Sun City combines the expertise of Pulte in their successful multigenerational communities and Del Webb’s superb active adult specialization.

This combination of multigenerational and active adult communities is a popular concept and allows families to be in close proximity to their retirees while having separate community amenities. Del Webb and Pulte repeated this in the most recent development, Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch in Florence, about 55 miles southeast of central Phoenix. This community opened in 2006 and is expected to reach build out by 2014.

Check out: Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand, Corte Bella, Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch, and Sun City Festival

Current Golf Course Homes in
Sun City GrandClick for golf course listings

Current Golf Course Homes in
Sun City WestClick to view all golf course listings

Filed Under: Active Adult Communities, The Sun Cities Tagged With: 55+, active adult, Active Adult Community, Arizona, Arizona Active Adult Community, Arizona Communities, AZ, Corte Bella, Del Webb, homes for sale, retirement, Sun City, Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch, Sun City Festival, Sun City Grand, Sun City West

Sun City West

August 31, 2011 by irenehammond

Sun City West is the second of the Sun Cities in the NW corner of the Phoenix Valley. Construction and homes sales began in 1978 as the first Sun City sold out. It took until 1997 for Sun City West to complete their build-out. The community boundaries are Bell Rd to the south, Grand Avenue to the east and El Mirage to the west. The new state road 303 curves around the northern boundary. Most of Sun City West is excluded from the Maricopa School Districts, and therefore enjoys lower real estate tax. The lower real estate taxes combined with the low maintenance fees make Sun City West a very desirable location for the retiring active adults on a fixed income. The financial incentive plus the tremendous number of clubs and activities and of course the opportunity to play 9 golf courses all combine to create another extremely desirable 55+ retirement location. The variety of single level home styles, patio homes, and condos offer a wide range of home pricing. Within the community the streets are approved for driving your golf carts and you will find shopping, churches, and banks, drug stores, grocery stores and the Del Webb hospital.

For Sun City West Visitor Information click here
For Sun City West Recreation Centers click here
For Sun City West Clubs and Groups click here

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Sun City West Homes for Sale	Sun City West Golf Course Homes

Sun City West, an Arizona Active Adult Community

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Filed Under: North West Valley, Sun City West, Sun City West Tagged With: 55+, active adult, Active Adult Community, Arizona, Arizona Active Adult Community, Arizona Communities, AZ, bowling, condominium, condos, Del Webb Hospital, fitness club, golf, golf course homes, heated pool, homes for sale, Lapidary, patio homes, pickle ball, real estate, retirement, softball, Sun City West, tennis, town homes

Sun City Grand

August 30, 2011 by irenehammond

In 1996 construction began on Sun City Grand just to the west and south of Sun City West, with Grand Avenue (Rt. 60) being a divider. This Active Adult Community was to have a greater range of home sizes. It was smaller with only 10,000 homes, 5 pools and 3 golf courses. The community was sold out in 2004. This community is truly “grand”, the facilities are extensive and include 5 activity centers, with meeting rooms, classrooms, 2 with complete fitness set ups, 2 with indoor and outdoor pools, and even a ballroom in one! The play courts are as varied as the centers, there are 12 pickle ball courts, 14 tennis courts and 8 Bocce Ball courts scattered around the community.

Residences vary tremendously. There are one bedroom condos with less than 1000 sq ft complete with their own community pool and clubhouse which are a popular choice for many as winter getaways. The luxurious estate homes sprawl over ¼ acre and many exceed 3,000 sq. ft. There is truly a home in Sun City Grand for every taste, be it an escape for a few weeks at a time or full time lavish living. This is definitely not your Grandparents retirement center.

For more information on Sun City Grand click here

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Sun City Grand
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Sun City Grand
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Sun City Grand
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Filed Under: Active Adult Communities, North West Valley, NW Home, Sun City Grand, Surprise Tagged With: 55+, active adult, Active Adult Community, Arizona Active Adult Community, Arizona Communities, AZ, fitness club, golf, golf course homes, heated pool, heated spa, homes for sale, pickle ball, real estate, retirement, Surprise, tennis

Sun City

August 30, 2011 by irenehammond

This was the first of the Active Adult Communities in Phoenix’s North West Valley.

It was opened by Del Webb in 1960. The grand opening was a very festive occasion; Some 25,000 visitors toured the homes in that first weekend. Sales were brisk and by 1978 when the last home was built, the city had 26,000 homes. The popularity of the community has been on the rise in the past few years due to the proximity to freeways and the many activities of the northwest valley. Sun City has no children, therefore no schools and the unique situation of no school real estate taxes either. This has been a big attraction for buyers. With 11 golf courses, the golf frontage homes are plentiful and are ideal for retirees who are game to remodel and update. Activities cover every area of interest one could wish, the clubs are too numerous to list. 7 swimming pools and rec centers have every home within walking distance, or a golf cart ride. Many of the golf carts are street licensed, so one need not have an automobile for shopping.

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Sun City
Golf Course Homes

Filed Under: Sun City, Sun City, The Sun Cities Tagged With: 55+, active adult, Active Adult Community, Arizona Active Adult Community, Arizona Communities, AZ, golf course homes, homes for sale, real estate, retirement

Corte Bella

August 29, 2011 by irenehammond

Corte Bella is one of the newer jewels in the Del Webb/Pulte crown of adult communities. It is a small upscale community off the beaten path, but beautifully designed. It is one of their gated country club communities although it is considered a part of Sun City West, but separated by a wall from Sun City West. Many of the homes feature front yard courtyards, lovely spots to enjoy your privacy or to share time with your friends in the gorgeous Arizona evenings. Many have focal points of outdoor fireplaces or tinkling fountains. All designs extend the living space into the outdoors. The community’s 10,000 square foot center houses a fitness club with spa treatment rooms, separate men’s and women’s lounges and locker rooms, pools, indoor whirlpool and saunas, and private sun patios. An on-site activities director will handle your requests for additional services. Your ownership includes privileges at the Country Club fitness center, and the 7500 square foot Social Club as well as discounted greens fees to the 18 hole golf course.