Sunland Village

Sunland Village is an established 55+ active adult community in East Mesa, Arizona, developed by Farnsworth Homes between 1974 and 1984. With 2,685 homes and roughly 4,000 year-round and seasonal residents, it was the second of four Farnsworth active adult communities in the East Valley, following Dreamland Villa and preceding Sunland Village East and Sunland Springs Village. Half a century on, it remains one of the best-value 55+ addresses in the Phoenix metro — the HOA fees at all of the Farnsworth communities are among the lowest in the entire Phoenix area, and Sunland Village is no exception. The community reaches from Broadway Road south to Southern Avenue, and from west of Greenfield Road east to Higley, with the main entrance at Diamond Avenue and Greenfield Road. The housing stock is deliberately varied. Single-family ranch homes — many with Spanish- or Mediterranean-inspired stucco facades — make up the bulk of the community, with original floor plans ranging from about 1,080 to 2,060 square feet, though decades of renovations and additions have pushed some up to 2,400+ square feet. Sunland Villas are attached single-level townhomes along Carol Avenue, ranging from 611 to 1,556 square feet, where an additional HOA fee covers all exterior maintenance, insurance, and yard care — true lock-and-leave living for snowbirds. Sunland Towers rounds out the options: three multi-story buildings of condominium units with secure underground parking and buzz-in lobby access. All structures were built with solid 'slump block' construction. The community operates under an 80/20 occupancy rule: 80% of homes must have at least one resident aged 55 or older, the remaining 20% must be 45+, and no children under 19 may live there full-time. Pets are allowed in the single-family homes but not the Villas townhomes. The amenity picture is strong for the price point. Three swimming pools (one heated year-round) plus a jacuzzi and whirlpool anchor the outdoor recreation, along with tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball, shuffleboard, a horseshoe pit, and barbecue areas. Sunland Village Golf Club — an executive par-62 course adjacent to the community — offers professionally designed play, complete practice facilities, and Rochester's Family Dining & Sports Bar on site. Inside the clubhouse, residents find a spacious auditorium with bandshell, fitness center, library, card room, craft and ceramics rooms, and multi-purpose meeting spaces. Social life is what most residents point to when describing the community. A full activities calendar runs year-round, managed in partnership with an activity coordinator and an extraordinary volunteer base. Chartered clubs include the Arts and Crafts League, the Songsters choir (which performs regularly), Pickleball Club, book club, drama club, watercolor workshop, travel club, poker, and bingo. The auditorium hosts off-Broadway shows, weekly performances by local and professional bands and orchestras, guest speakers on everything from financial planning to mental health, pancake breakfasts, ice cream socials, dances, and dinner shows. Seasonal traditions include a red-white-and-blue golf cart parade for Veterans Day and a community-wide Christmas lights contest. Location is a quiet superpower. Sunland Village sits about seven miles from central Mesa and less than 24 miles from downtown Phoenix, with Loop 202 and Highway 60 both within easy reach. Superstition Springs Mall is roughly 10 minutes away; Phoenix Sky Harbor is a 20–30 minute drive without traffic. Grocery options within a short drive include Sprouts, Albertsons, Safeway, Fry's, Trader Joe's, Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, and Target. Banner Baywood Medical Center and several other major hospitals are 5–10 minutes out. The Superstition Mountains, Usery Mountain Regional Park, the Salt River lakes, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum all sit within a short drive for residents who want to get out into Arizona's desert landscape.