Sun City

Overview

Sun City

Sun City, AZ

623-876-3048

SunCityaz.org

Sun City

House Types: Condos, Houses, Land, Mobile Homes, New Construction, Patio Homes, Townhouses

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Sun City, Arizona started the 55+ age retirement community concept in 1960 when Del Webb took a chance on a new concept; active retirement living. Sun City is the oldest of the Phoenix retirement communities, which helps make its value likely the greatest of the Phoenix developments given the nicley remodeled 1960's & 1970's houses, its seven very modern recreation centers and eight golf courses to hint at the extensive activity list, the world class health facilites and shopping inside town where golf carts can roam freely, and the close proximity to Phoenix services and recreation.

Sun City Website
Recreation Centers of Sun City Site

Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. (RCSC)
10626 W. Thunderbird Blvd.
Sun City, AZ 85351
Phone: 623-977-5000
Toll Free: 1-844-4 SUN CITY

Sun City Golf Site

After 50 years of practice, Sun City probably probably offers the greatest selection of activities with more than 120 chartered, special-interest clubs, eight golf courses, seven recreation centers, two bowling centers, an open-air amphitheater for concerts, a softball field, a 33-acre man-made lake and Duffeeland dog park.

Cost Of Living

Arizona’s cost of living index is 95.2. It is 4.8% less costly here than the the average U.S. city with an index of 100. And Sun City costs less than the average Arizona city.

Sun City is not a city at all. It is a seven by three mile unincorporated portion of Maricopa County. The County is responsible for the roads, medians, codes, zoning, and law enforcement. There is no city sales tax and the cost to operate Sun City AZ is considerably less than other cities with a population of more than 40,000. Since Sun City AZ is an age-restricted community, there are no schools which means there are no school taxes. Sun City AZ does have its own fire department, which is funded through real estate property taxes. Sun City’s property taxes range between $300 and $1,300 a year. The price range of housing in Sun City AZ is between $35,000 and $350,000 (as of 2015), depending on the size and location.

There are approximately 27,500 properties in Sun City AZ that are assessed annually by the Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. (RCSC) to operate and maintain the recreation facilities.

Fees

Sun City, Arizona claims to offers the most amenities at the lowest cost. With no school taxes and Sun City, Arizona’s property taxes ranking among the lowest in the nation, hey are probably right. They claim to have the lowest annual fees in comparison to other 55+ active adult communities. Sun City, Arizona has never gone into debt and never charged a special assessment.

The Facilities Agreement, executed by each Deeded Real Estate Owner in Sun City AZ, obligates Owners to pay annual property assessments to the Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. (RCSC) whether or not Owners occupy the Sun City AZ or use RCSC facilities.

As of February 1, 2017, RCSC annual property assessments were $496.00 per property per year, which provides up to two deeded owners per household with cards for use at all RCSC facilities with additional fees for golf and bowling at reduced Cardholder rates. (Card holders save about 25% on the public golf fees for instance)

Non-Owners (significant others not on the deed for instance) who reside in Sun City may purchase a facilities privilege card for $248.00 (as of 02/17) per person per year or $75.00 per month per person.

Healthcare

Sun City has a multitude of clinics, hospitals, physicians, and pharmacies that are well-established and close by to serve the community. Spas, therapeutic clinics, and specialty treatment centers for physical therapy, rehabilitation, and other special needs are also located close by. Thanks to early investment by residents, Sun City is home to world-class healthcare system centered around the top-100-ranked Banner Boswell Hospital.

Activities

Sun City, Arizona hosts many arts festivals, musical concerts, and special events. Arts and crafts clubs such as stained glass, weavers and knitters, ceramics, quilters, clay, leather craft, china painting, silver craft, lapidary and woodworking are available. Educational, sports, dance, exercise, music, card and game clubs are also available. Social clubs such as photography, gardening, and a dog club are available

Educational opportunities include ASU West, the Lifelong Learning Club, multiple community colleges, and RISE: Rio Institute for Senior Education.

Public Golf Courses

The Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. (RCSC) owns and operates eight golf courses in Sun City with year-round play to RCSC Cardholders for a reduced rate (about 25% discount on eighteen holes). RCSC operates five championship courses and three executive courses covering 1,100 acres within a six miles radius.

Other Nearby Activities

The Phoenix metro area surrounding Sun City offers professional sports, theaters, museums, casinos, restaurants and nightclubs as well as scenic parks, refuges and lakes. The NFL Cardinals and NHL Coyotes play less than four miles down the road in Glendale. The Phoenix Suns, (Phoenix) and Arizona Diamondbacks (Phoenix) play in downtown Phoenix. There are two spring training baseball stadiums nearby, home of the Seattle Mariners, the San Diego Padres with regular games in February among the rest of the fifteen professional teams in the Phoenix area. And Phoenix International Raceway hosts two annual NASCAR races about six miles away.

History

The Del Webb Development Company (DEVCO) opened Sun City Arizona’s first five model homes on January 1, 1960, betting people would embrace an active retirement lifestyle in a master-planned retirement community. They were right and many "Sun Citys" and similar developments have continued the successful formula of this milestone event.

Governance

The RCSC board of directors serves its approximately 38,000 Members voluntarily. RCSC offers the most amenities for the lowest annual property assessment of any retirement community in the U.S. today. The property assessment fee is only $462* per property per year (effective February 1, 2015).

Housing Types

Garden Apartment Homes

Ground-floor apartments located in low-rise complexes - surrounded by lawns, gardens, trees, shrubbery and/or landscaping. Note, the garden apartment homeowners association generally covers exterior maintenance, common area maintenance, water, and trash pickup. Each garden apartment homeowners association has its own set of CC&Rs and additional annual fees.

Condominiums

individually owned apartments that are generally multi-level. The condominium homeowners association often pays for roof replacement, exterior maintenance, and common-area maintenance. Each condominium homeowners association has its own CC&Rs and additional fees. Some condominium complexes also provide meal options.

Patio Homes

Patio homes, or cluster homes, are single-level homes that share at least one sidewall and have a back patio, but not a backyard. Patio homes are generally built with two, three, or four homes in each building instead of the continuous row of homes common with townhomes. The services and maintenance covered by patio home homeowners associations varies considerably. Each patio home homeowners association generally has its own CC&Rs and additional annual fees.

Gemini Twin Homes

A duplex, called a “Gemini” or “Twin” home here has services and maintenance covered by Gemini Twin home homeowners associations. The coverage varies considerably but with landscaping maintenance commonly included. Each Gemini Twin home homeowners association has its own CC&Rs and additional annual fees.

Single-Family Detached Homes

Single-family residences are detached homes with front and back yards, a driveway, and an attached carport or garage. All maintenance on single-family detached homes is the responsibility of the homeowner. Single-family detached homes in Sun City are required to comply with Sun City’s CC&Rs. You can obtain a printable PDF copy of this 12-page document at http://www.suncityhoa.org/cc-and-r-overview/.

Some Sun City homes are built on golf courses or on the shore of one of the two man-made lakes. And some acre lot homes in the Rancho Estates section of Sun City offer horse privelages (note there may be compromised RCSC privaleges here).

General Amenities