55+ Communities in Mesa and Gilbert, AZ

The main 55+ communities in Mesa and Gilbert are Leisure World, Sunland Village, Fountain of the Sun, Encore at Eastmark and Trilogy at Power Ranch. All five are age-restricted under their own rules. They differ in size, golf, gates and age of homes, and today nearly every home you tour will be a resale.

See all homes Call Terry: 602-483-4665

How the five compare

I am Terry Day, REALTOR with DeLex Realty, and these are the five East Valley 55+ communities I compare most often for buyers who want Mesa or Gilbert. Here is the short version, using what each community or builder publishes.

• Size: Leisure World and Sunland Village are the big, established ones at roughly 2,700 homes each. Encore at Eastmark was planned for more than 900 homes.
• Golf: Leisure World, Sunland Village, Fountain of the Sun and Trilogy at Power Ranch all have golf in or next to the community. Encore does not have its own course.
• Gated: Leisure World and Trilogy at Power Ranch say so on their official sites. Community listings show Fountain of the Sun as gated, and Sunland Village and Encore as not gated.
• New vs resale: All five are resale markets now. Encore was the last to sell new homes, and Taylor Morrison shows it as sold out.

Leisure World, Mesa

Leisure World calls itself a gated community with around-the-clock security. It covers 958 acres with 2,664 homes, ranging from condominiums to golf course homes. There are two courses: Coyote Run, an 18-hole par 73 championship course, and Heron Lakes, an 18-hole par 63 executive course. Golf is a separate membership, so non-golfers do not have to join.

On age, the Leisure World rules say at least 80% of the homes must have at least one occupant 55 or older, and that the age restrictions are set out in the CC&Rs. The rules also cover guest stays and who may live there, so I get you a copy early. Because access is controlled, showings run through the gate, and I read the showing instructions closely. See my Leisure World homes for sale page.

Sunland Village, Mesa

Sunland Village describes itself as a 55+ active adult community of 2,685 homes, with construction from 1974 to 1984. It was the second of four Farnsworth developments in the East Valley. The association site lists single-family floor plans, villas and the Towers Condominiums, and the main entrance is at Diamond Avenue and Greenfield Road.

Golf here is the Sunland Village Golf Club, which community listings describe as an 18-hole course next to the community. Sunland Village, Sunland Village East and Sunland Springs Village are separate communities, and I keep them on separate searches so the listings do not get mixed. See my Sunland Village homes for sale page.

Fountain of the Sun, Mesa

Fountain of the Sun is an east Mesa 55+ community built around the Fountain of the Sun Country Club, which runs an 18-hole executive course with member, league and public tee times. Community listings describe it as gated, with single-family homes, attached homes and some manufactured homes built from the mid-1970s through the 1980s.

Inventory is resale. On a golf lot, I walk the yard during play and look at the hole before I look at the kitchen. If you plan to be away in summer or lease the home, read the association rules on occupancy and rentals before you write an offer. See my Fountain of the Sun homes for sale page.

Encore at Eastmark, Mesa

Encore at Eastmark is the 55+ neighborhood inside Eastmark, a larger master-planned community in Mesa. AV Homes started it, planning more than 900 homes, and Taylor Morrison sold the later homes. The homes are single-story, and Taylor Morrison states that at least one resident of each household must be 55 or older, with additional restrictions. Encore has its own clubhouse, the Encore Club, with a resort-style pool, fitness center and café.

Encore residents can also use Eastmark amenities, such as the Great Park and the Event Pavilion. Golf is not part of Encore itself. Taylor Morrison points to nearby courses instead, including Trilogy Golf Club at Power Ranch. Taylor Morrison now lists Encore as sold out, so you are buying resale. See my Encore at Eastmark 55+ homes page.

Trilogy at Power Ranch, Gilbert

Trilogy at Power Ranch is the Gilbert choice on this list. Its association calls it a gated, private resort community that is age-restricted. The association's resale page summarizes the CC&Rs this way: selling or leasing a home where no occupant is 55 or older needs approval from the Community Manager or Board, occupants under 18 are not allowed, and rentals shorter than one month are not permitted.

Power Ranch Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 71 course of about 6,932 yards that takes public tee times year-round. Community listings show single-family homes built by Shea Homes from 1999 to 2008, so these are newer than most of Sunland Village or Leisure World. Plan names like Manzanita, Cottonwood and Sage come up often, so ask Terry for the floor plan. See my Trilogy at Power Ranch homes for sale page.

How I help you choose among the five

• Gated campus with two courses and many home types: Leisure World
• Established Mesa streets with a golf club next door: Sunland Village
• East Mesa executive golf with homes and attached options: Fountain of the Sun
• Newest homes, inside a bigger master plan, no course of its own: Encore at Eastmark
• Gilbert address, gated, golf through the community: Trilogy at Power Ranch

In every one of them, I read the CC&Rs and rules with you, order the HOA resale documents early, and match the floor plan to the home you are actually walking. Still deciding between sides of the Valley? Read my East Valley vs West Valley 55+ comparison, try the 55+ community finder, or start at my Arizona 55+ living hub and the 55+ homes guide.

See all homes Call Terry: 602-483-4665

Questions buyers ask

Which of these five communities have golf?
Four of them. Leisure World has two courses, Coyote Run and Heron Lakes. Sunland Village sits next to the Sunland Village Golf Club. Fountain of the Sun has an 18-hole executive course, and Trilogy at Power Ranch has Power Ranch Golf Club. Encore at Eastmark has no course of its own.

Which ones are gated?
Leisure World and Trilogy at Power Ranch both describe themselves as gated on their official sites. Community listings describe Fountain of the Sun as gated and Sunland Village and Encore at Eastmark as not gated. I confirm the entry setup on every tour.

Can I still buy a brand-new home in any of them?
Not from the original builders, as far as I can see in November 2026. Taylor Morrison now shows Encore at Eastmark as sold out, and the other four were built out years ago. Expect resale homes in all five.

Is Encore at Eastmark only for 55+ buyers?
Encore is the age-restricted (55+) neighborhood. Taylor Morrison states that at least one resident of each household must be 55 or older, and other restrictions apply. Eastmark around it is a larger master-planned community, and Encore residents can use Eastmark amenities such as the Great Park.

What is the difference between Sunland Village and Sunland Village East?
They are separate communities, and Sunland Springs Village is a third. Sunland Village is the one off Greenfield Road and Diamond Avenue in Mesa. I keep them on separate searches so the listings do not get mixed.