Surprise AZ as retirement location?

[jhynesrockmtn]

Just back from visiting my Mom and her husband who winter in an older RV retirement community in Surprise AZ. I didn't think I would like it but the community was great. Simple living, nice people, great community pools and other amenities. My Mom owns two properties in there. Great cycling, both mountain and road are close. We would likely use it 3-4 months a year once we can retire or work remotely. I could buy the original park model on the golf course cheap.

My main concern with the area is long term water availability and whether my generation would buy into places like this. Many of the lots were for sale, still recovering from the recession and generational turn over. If the lots stay vacant, dues drop, upkeep of the facilities becomes an issue.......

I'm 52 and likely wouldn't start using it for at least 5 years. My Mom is in no hurry to sell.

Other issues to consider???

[porsche4life]

Congrats on discovering AZ! It's not a barren desert like everyone thinks. I love this state!


I've been showing hones in several of the 55+ communities in Mesa over the last few weeks. Pricing seems to be very community specific. Amenities are key and some places are way more popular than others. We just got an offer on place accepted this week that had been on the market 4 days. There were 6 or 7 showings in that time and we had to work fast to make sure our offer came in first!


Pm me the name of the community and I would be happy to dig around and see what's going on in that community. How many seem to be sitting on the market, price going up or down, etc!

I don't see the popularity of these communities going away. They offer tons of things to do, and are super popular with snowbirds like yourself. Want to come lay in the sun for 4 months and golfing every day? That's what these communities were designed for!

[Vipergrün]

My buddy lives in Surprise. Been there a few times. Not for me, but he likes it there. He lives in a PUD with a really nice clubhouse, pool, spa, etc.

[Rtrorkt]

moved to Scottsdale from SF and Richmond, VA (don't ask). Love it here. If it gets too hot, I got my pool.

[sammyg2]

My parents retired in wickenburg which is right up the road from surprise. Great place. Lots of snow birds, place gets deserted in summer. Deserted, desert. Ha. I crack me up.

They also have a mountain house in Lakeside just south of show low for when it gets hot. And it does. Get hot I mean.

[BeyGon]

I have taken my wife to Prescott twice trying to get her to move, it won't work, she complains about the altitude and "it might snow in the winter". People from Phoenix buy their summer homes there, it gets into the low 90s during the summer.
We tried Payson but she thinks it's "too remote", and it snows in the winter. I like Prescott, I would move there tomorrow but it isn't going to happen.
It rains a bit in the summer and they seem to have, or say they have ten years of water supply right now.

[porsche4life]

Dean,

Have you tried Tucson? Its a little more artsy than Phoenix, a bit cooler, but still all the comforts of a big city. Lots of mountains right around town and tons of stuff to do with U of A in town.

And yes its gets hot as hell here. Thats why we have AC, pools, and cold cervezas!

[madmmac]

The RV parks are ok if you just want to park your rig somewhere. Some RV parks are way better than others.

Surprise is a nice city but a pain in the A$$ if you want to go anywhere East. The problem is they don't have many bridges that go over the non existent Agua Fria river. So you are stuck going on Bell Road (with a lotta people) the 60 or way down South to Olive. The 303 helps, but it really depends on where you are going. My sister lives in Surprise.

Summer gets hot, but the golf is almost free!

[JavaBrewer]

I don't like Surprises...or death defying heat. Don't get me wrong I dig AZ. In the winter and Spring. If I moved there FT it would be a higher elevation.

[porsche4life]

You get used to the heat in the summer... Or get in the pool and grab a cerveza...