Sun City Palm Desert is a 55-plus community for people who want to do anything but settle down. “It’s well run, it’s beautiful, it has lots of amenities and it’s affordable,” says Julie Warner, real estate agent with HomeSmart. Besides being an agent for over 20 years, Warner is a resident of Sun City Palm Desert.
Sun City Palm Desert is a gated community. Desert landscapes line the wide streets. Garages have enough room for cars and a golf cart. Single-story modern homes with Spanish influence fill the neighborhood. Prices fall between $320,000 and $920,000, although some homes sell for upwards of $1 million. Most three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes sell for around $530,000. The neighborhood has rules that encourage neighbors to keep the homes uniform. “The Homeowner’s Association is rather strict, but it keeps property values high,” Warner says. She credits the cleanliness of Sun City to those strict guidelines.
As an active adult community, there are countless opportunities for recreation. This includes the Mountain Vista Golf Club, which features two 18-hole courses designed by World Golf Hall of Famer, Billy Casper. Seasoned golfers can sign up for tee times any day of the year, while those who are just starting out can take lessons offered by the club. Sun City Palm Desert also has both an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, an indoor track and a fitness center. The furry friends of Sun City can get their exercise in at two fenced in dog parks or a dog walking park in the neighborhood. Residents can join over 80 different clubs. “I was a part of the canasta club, the mahjong club and the pet lovers club,” Warner says. These clubs are a way for people to meet their neighbors and build their community.
There is also plenty to do outside of Sun City. The neighborhood is a 6-mile drive from Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve. Part of the larger Coachella Valley Preserve, this wildlife refuge offers limited hours that allow people to hike without disturbing the ecosystem. Joshua Tree National Park is a little farther, 35 miles away. This national park is open year-round and has over 300 miles of hiking trails.
There are a few dining options inside of Sun City Palm Desert. For breakfast, locals can go to The Daily Grind. Lunch and dinner are served at Boulevards, and they can end their day by meeting their friends for drinks at Martini’s. For people who want to venture beyond the gates, there are a few restaurant options at the shopping center nearby, accessible by golf cart and car. One of them is Mario’s Italian Café, a family-owned restaurant that makes giving back a top priority. During the pandemic, the restaurant started “Mario’s Community Mondays,” where they donated meals to first responders, hospitals, food banks and other people in need. Sun City residents can also find Stater Bros. Markets in the shopping center, where they can get all their groceries.
While public transportation is not an option for Sun City Palm Desert, there is one unique way that locals travel: golf carts. In fact, there are parking spots in front of Stater Bros. reserved for their carts. Of course, cars are also used to get around town. The neighborhood is next to the 10 Freeway.
Wind travels fast through Sun City Palm Desert. “It’s like a wind tunnel,” Warner says. She noted that some parts of the community get more wind than others, blowing sand around the area.
Cynthia Vanover
HOMESMART KEY REALTY
(760) 493-4283
89 Total Sales
1 in Sun City Palm Desert
$570,000 Price
Norman Williams
Compass
(760) 423-4716
101 Total Sales
1 in Sun City Palm Desert
$669,000 Price
Matt Ennis
Bennion Deville Homes
(760) 363-9094
54 Total Sales
1 in Sun City Palm Desert
$505,000 Price
Angel Estrada
Keller Williams Realty
(424) 347-6588
20 Total Sales
1 in Sun City Palm Desert
$400,000 Price
Rony Sosa
REACTION REALTY
(951) 877-5468
72 Total Sales
1 in Sun City Palm Desert
$580,000 Price
Amber Placentia
HomeSmart
(760) 259-2485
87 Total Sales
1 in Sun City Palm Desert
$365,000 Price
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Sun City Palm Desert | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 1 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Sun City Palm Desert, Thousand Palms sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Sun City Palm Desert, Thousand Palms over the last 12 months is $529,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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