Sun City Real Estate & Information
Your Introduction to Sun City and Sun City Real Estate & Homes for Sale
Sun City is located on the western edge of the Phoenix area west of Peoria and southeast of Surprise. Its distant cousin, Sun City West, is located northwest of Sun City.
Sun City is considered an ‘active-adult retirement community,’ a concept that was ground-breaking at the city’s inception. This essentially means that the city is (this term is used lightly as Sun City is not incorporated) largely self-sustaining from a personal living and entertainment perspective. Sun City homes range in size, styles, and price points. And Sun City boasts at least three country clubs, seven recreation centers, its Sun Bowl, and at least eight golf courses.
Sun City is estimated to have nearly 48,000 residents which is a significant increase from 2000 levels and surprising given the city’s number of residents remained relatively flat at 38,000 to 39,000 from 1980 to 2000.
Real estate in Sun City is dedicated to potential residents who are 55 and older. There are strict ordinances in place to keep the city’s composition retirees-based.
Sun City – A History
Sun City was officially opened on New Year’s Day in 1960. Reportedly, traffic lined up for miles to get a view into the newly minted community.
Sun City was one of the first of its kind – a community designed for retirees with a rich complement of amenities, activities, and venues in addition to housing. The community was designed to change the nature by which America’s retirees settled in for their twilight years and it succeeded.
Del E. Webb, the community’s founder and visionary, has a long time history in the Valley with construction projects ranging from smaller master-planned communities to high-rise office complexes. His companies were involved in projects from California to New York.
His vision for the city began to take shape during the 1950s with the purchase of 20,000 acres in the northwest Valley near Youngtown. Construction began in 1959.
Sun City probably represents one of the most successful real estate projects in the entire Phoenix area. Reportedly, 237 homes were sold during the first opening weekend. By the end of 1960, Del Webb had sold 2,000 homes. This was one year faster and 300 more homes than originally expected by planners.
Great Resources & Information on Sun City
Fairway Recreation Center
Golfing
Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc.
Sun Bowl
Sun City
Sun City Library
Sun City Visitors Center
Sun City Real Estate
Sun City real estate tends to run outside somewhat of the normal Phoenix real estate market. This is largely due to the type of community and nature of Sun City’s residents. Sun City homes cannot be purchased if the potential resident doesn’t meet specific city ordinances with regard to age. As such, the community sits apart from its Valley counterparts. Though Sun Lakes is similar in constitution to Sun City, Sun City still is simply more insulated from the market characteristics and gyrations of the greater Phoenix area.
Sun City homes tend to be much older in age given the timing of construction for many of the communities there. Smaller, flat-roof designs are common in neighborhoods with broad streets and open, shared backyard spaces. Per square foot pricing does tend to run higher than neighboring areas given the level of demand for the community and its more “exclusive” availability to seniors.
It is common to see desert animals such as rabbits, roadrunners, woodpeckers and the like making the neighborhoods their homes too. Perhaps, it’s the open yard spaces along with the quiet, unimposing calm the neighborhoods have that attracts the rich animal life.
In the past, Sun City was relatively isolated given its location on Grande Avenue. In more recent years, Sun City has seen the Valley grow around it. As such, the number of additional venues for Sun City residents to enjoy has grown immensely. This includes the Arizona Cardinals stadium, nearby major league baseball spring training stadiums, the Wildlife World Zoo, and other recreation activities.
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