Sun Lakes offers a resort-style atmosphere with lots of recreation and single-residence homes just south of Chandler and about 25 miles southeast of Phoenix. “One of the best aspects of Sun Lakes is simply its location,” says Melissa Rush, broker and owner of Rush & Associates Realty, who has over 26 years of experience. Developed in the late 20th century by E.J. Robson, the community was originally little more than a shopping center and a few hundred housing lots; today, the master-planned city is made up of five country club neighborhoods with a population of about 15,000—residents here must be 40 or older, and most are 55 or older. Folks enjoy an active, leisurely lifestyle with sports like golf and pickleball and a packed, year-round schedule of clubs and social events. “It’s unique—it’s not a nursing home community,” says Stephanie Reynolds, a Realtor with Exp Realty who has over 5 years of experience. “People are very social—it’s lively. The majority of people are older, so there’s not going to be bicycles and toys lying everywhere.”
Sun Lakes has many Mediterranean-style homes throughout the community.
Walking trails and ponds are scattered throughout the Sun Lakes neigborhood.
Ed Robson Library is located on Riggs Road in Sun Lakes.
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Sun Lakes homes plus homeowners associations
Sun Lakes’ homes were built during the late 20th century through the early 2000s and are lined along palm tree-dotted, circular streets without sidewalks that wrap around the community’s lakes. Overall, homes are typically ranch-style, but each subdivision has its own stylings, like Sun Lakes Country Club’s minimal, midcentury-inspired ranch-style and Cottonwood Country Club’s Mediterranean-style homes with red clay-tiled roofs and desert-colored stucco facades. There are also late 20th-century manufactured homes in Sun Lakes Country Club, which were part of the original community development. “Manufactured homes are completely refurbished—new cabinets, new counters, custom everything. You can make it look like anything you want it to be,” Reynolds says.
The median home price in Sun Lakes is $465,000, compared to $440,000 in Phoenix and $285,000 in Sun City, another active adult community. “There aren’t really apartments in Sun Lakes. There are single-family residences and one-story villas—they call them townhomes,” Reynolds says. The five country club communities in Sun Lakes are all part of homeowners associations; annual dues range from about $1,300 to $2,000 and go toward community upkeep. “It’s more expensive because you own the land, and the reason people want to live here is the lifestyle,” Reynolds says.
The Mediterranean-style homes in Sun Lakes have desert-colored stucco.
Manufactured homes in Sun Lakes often have carports and covered porches.
Ranch style homes are also common in Sun Lakes.
The majority of Mediterranean-style homes in Sun Lakes are single story with some two story.
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Year-round clubs, groups and events in Sun Lakes, Arizona
There are over 70 clubs and groups for residents to join in Sun Lakes. “You name it—woodworking, ceramics, cards, poker, all different activities,” Reynolds says. There’s also a full calendar of events, including monthly activities like karaoke, trivia and bingo. “They have music bingo, or ‘singo,’ as it’s called,” Reynolds says. “They play songs, and people sing along. There’s lots of joking, and it’s very social.” Annual traditions include the 2-mile Veteran’s Walk in November and the holiday tree lighting in December. Plus, there's the Sun Lakes Community Theatre and the Sun Lakes Chorale.
Sports and leisure in the five Sun Lakes communities
Each neighborhood in the city has its own set of amenities, including a golf course and clubhouse, and most access is shared among the five communities. However, some facilities, such as fitness centers are just for the residents of that neighborhood. There are sports like tennis, pickleball and bocce, and there are also organized tournaments, like the spring softball league. Golfers can hit the links at any of Sun Lakes’ five courses; Ironwood Golf Club and Oakwood Golf Course are both open to the public, but residents get preferred reservations for tee times. Sun Lakes has several community pools, plus clubhouses for tabletop games and club meetings. True to its name, there are also over 40 lakes in Sun Lakes. “You cannot swim in them, and there’s no boating, but there’s an RC boating club, and you can catch and release fish,” Reynolds says.
Residents practice their golf game at the Sun Lakes Country Club.
The pools at the local clubs in Sun Lakes are popular spots to cool off in the heat.
Field of Dreams is a fun place for Senior Softball participants to be active in Sun Lakes.
Achieve health and fitness goals at CrossFit Endless Summer in Sun Lakes.
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Shopping and dining essentials along East Riggs Road
Sun Lakes is mostly residential, but there are a few retail plazas lined along East Riggs Road, a central thoroughfare. “We’re far enough away that we don’t have to get involved in everyone’s business, but we’re close enough to where you can get things when you need to,” Reynolds says. Groceries, fast food and small businesses, like barbershops and nail salons, are nearby. Each neighborhood here also has its own restaurant. “We have five restaurants in the communities themselves, but there are restaurants all around there,” Reynolds says. Stone & Barrel at IronOaks offers a full bar and comfort fare like pizza, street tacos and burgers. For a homestyle breakfast, The Buttered Biscuit along East Riggs Road is a popular spot to start the morning.
The Buttered Biscuit in Sun Lakes is a popular spot to start the morning.
Bashas' in Sun Lakes offers a delviery service for its residents.
Ace Hardware is a great place for the home repair needs on Sun Lakes residents.
Vanna Nail Spa in Sun Lakes offers a variety of nail services.
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Getting around Sun Lakes
Route 87 borders Sun Lakes, providing direct access to Chandler, 8 miles away. Interstate 10 is close by for an easy trip to Phoenix, 25 miles away. Most residential streets are without bike lanes or sidewalks, and there isn’t public transportation, so cars are a must. “Golf carts are a big deal,” Reynolds says. “People dress up their golf carts; there’s a golf cart parade during the holidays—it’s part of the things to do.” Chandler Regional Medical Center is about 8 miles away, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 20 miles away.
Sun Lakes crime and environmental factors
Crime data specific to Sun Lakes is not readily available, but according to FBI statistics, the total number of reported violent- and property-related crimes in Maricopa County decreased by 70% between 2012 and 2022. Between 2017 and 2022, about 75% of these incidents were property-related, compared to 80% nationally. The Sun Lakes Sheriff’s Posse, a volunteer group with classroom and on-the-job training, helps patrol the community.
Extreme heat and the risk of wildfires are ongoing environmental concerns. From June through August, temperatures regularly top 100 degrees. There haven’t been any recent wildfires in Sun Lakes, but in case of local emergencies, Sun Lakes Fire District Station 231 is located within the city.
Written By
Travis Rocha
Photography Contributed By
John Williams
Video By
Kristen Wilson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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On average, homes in Sun Lakes, AZ sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Sun Lakes, AZ over the last 12 months is $475,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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New Roof just added! Adorable Hermosa model in gated Ironwood, Sun Lakes, a premier retirement community! So come enjoy 5 golf courses, 10 pools, pickleball, tennis and more. Stop by Grill on the Green at the Ironwood clubhouse for lunch or dinner, or the Stone and Barrel in Oakwood. Built in 1994 by Ed Robson, this 2x6 construction has vaulted ceilings, wonderful natural light, formal living
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