Del Webb vs Robson vs Trilogy: Arizona 55+ Compared

Comparing Del Webb vs Robson vs Trilogy communities in Arizona comes down to four things: how the clubhouses are set up, how central golf is, what the home designs look like, and whether you are buying new or resale. The mix changes by community, not just by brand.

A quick note on 55+ rules

Most communities here are age-restricted (55+); the rules are in each community's CC&Rs. Del Webb's site says its communities require at least one household resident to be 55 or older, with other restrictions that may apply. Shea Homes lists three Arizona Trilogy communities as partial 55+, so only part of each is age-restricted. I pull the CC&Rs for the exact section before you write an offer.

Del Webb style in Arizona

Del Webb's Arizona story starts with Sun City. Del Webb opened Sun City north of Phoenix in 1960, and the same company launched Sun City West in 1978. The Grand in Surprise, known to most buyers as Sun City Grand, describes itself as a Del Webb active adult community.

Clubhouses and recreation: The Del Webb model is built around recreation centers. Sun City Festival lists the Sage and Saguaro recreation centers, with pools, fitness centers, a ballroom, a wood shop and a pickleball complex. Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch lists a 48,000 square foot recreation center with indoor and outdoor pools.

Golf: Several Del Webb communities include golf. Sun City Festival lists a 27-hole course managed by Troon Golf. Sun City Anthem lists the 18-hole Poston Butte Golf Course, also managed by Troon Golf. The Grand lists Desert Springs, Cimarron and Granite Falls North and South among its golf pages. Del Webb at Rocking K in Tucson lists a pool, pickleball, trails and a recreation center, with no golf course.

Home designs: New Del Webb homes are sold in named series. At Sun City Festival and Sun City Anthem, the series include Prelude, Retreat and Encore, with Sun City Festival also listing Skyline and Enchantment. Resales in the original Sun Cities are older plans, many of them updated. Ask me for floor plans.

Resale vs new: Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand, Solera in Chandler and Corte Bella are resale markets today. Sun City Festival and Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch both list quick move-in homes on delwebb.com. Anthem at Merrill Ranch also has an all-ages neighborhood, Anthem Parkside, next to the 55+ Sun City Anthem section, so check which side a home sits on.

See more: Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand, Sun City Festival, Anthem at Merrill Ranch, and the three Sun Cities compared.

Robson style in Arizona

Robson Resort Communities has been building since 1972, starting with Sun Lakes, which first sold lots and mobile homes. Today Robson's community list shows five Arizona communities, and each one lists move-in ready homes.

Clubhouses: Robson communities usually have several named clubhouses. PebbleCreek lists the Tuscany, Tuscany Falls and Eagle's Nest clubhouses plus the Tuscany Sports and Aquatics Complex. Robson Ranch Arizona has the Ranch House and the Desert Sky Sports Club with an indoor pool. Quail Creek has the Madera Clubhouse and the newer Canyon Club. SaddleBrooke Ranch has the Ranch House Clubhouse and La Hacienda Club.

Golf: Golf is part of every Arizona Robson community. PebbleCreek has 54 holes across Tuscany Falls (36 holes) and Eagle's Nest (18 holes). Quail Creek has 27 holes made up of three nine-hole courses. Robson Ranch Arizona, SaddleBrooke Ranch and The Preserve at SaddleBrooke each list an 18-hole championship course. The Preserve notes its courses are open to the public.

Home designs: Robson sells build-to-order plans in series. Robson Ranch Arizona lists Oasis, Tradition, Premiere and Estate. PebbleCreek lists Courtyard Villa, Tradition, Premiere and Estate.

Resale vs new: All five list new homes, so you can compare build-to-order with resales in the same community. PebbleCreek notes that limited opportunities remain. Sun Lakes, where Robson began, is not on Robson's current community list, so homes there are resales.

See more: PebbleCreek, Robson Ranch and SaddleBrooke Ranch.

Trilogy style in Arizona

Trilogy communities are built by Shea Homes. The Arizona lineup mixes older resale communities with newer ones still selling.

Clubhouses: Trilogy at Vistancia lists the Kiva Club and Mita Club, plus Alvea Spa. Trilogy at Power Ranch has a clubhouse with Slate Bistro and Bar, two pools and pickleball, tennis and bocce courts. Encanterra lists the Encanterra Club with the La Casa and Algarve clubhouses, and Trilogy Ridgecrest lists an upcoming wellness and social club.

Golf: Trilogy at Vistancia has Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia. At Trilogy at Power Ranch, Power Ranch Golf Club is run separately from the HOA. Encanterra and Trilogy at Verde River each list an 18-hole championship course, and Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch lists the 18-hole Big Wick and nine-hole Li'l Wick. Trilogy Ridgecrest does not list a golf course of its own.

Home designs: Plans differ by community and phase. Ask me for floor plans.

Resale vs new: Trilogy at Vistancia and Trilogy at Power Ranch are resale-driven markets; neither appears among the selling communities on Shea Homes' Arizona Trilogy page. Shea Homes currently lists quick move-in homes at Encanterra, Trilogy Ridgecrest, Trilogy at Verde River and Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch on its Trilogy page.

How I compare them with buyers

I do not rank these brands. I start with four questions:

• Do you want a golf course in the community, or are clubs, fitness and pickleball enough?
• Do you want new construction, or an updated resale?
• East Valley, West Valley, Pinal County or the Tucson area?
• Which home features are must-haves, such as a casita, a golf cart garage or a lock-and-leave layout?

Then I set tours in one community from each brand when budget and location allow.

If you buy new, keep in mind the builder's sales agent works for the builder. You can bring your own agent, so call me before you register at a model home.

A resale home may carry an FHA or VA loan a buyer can assume, subject to lender approval. I work with assumable loans often; see the assumable guide.

More reading: new 55+ communities around Phoenix, 55+ golf communities in Arizona, East Valley vs West Valley, and the 55+ community finder.

Questions buyers ask

Is Del Webb the same as Sun City?
Del Webb built the original Sun City, which opened in 1960. Later Del Webb communities, such as Sun City Festival and Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch, are separate places with their own associations and rules.

Which of the three brands is still building in Arizona?
All three. Del Webb lists new homes at Sun City Festival and Sun City Anthem, Robson at all five Arizona communities, and Shea Homes at four Arizona Trilogy communities.

Are all Trilogy communities in Arizona fully 55+?
No. Shea Homes lists Encanterra, Trilogy at Verde River and Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch as partial 55+, and Trilogy Ridgecrest as 55+. Check the CC&Rs for the exact section a home is in.

Does every community include golf?
No. Every Arizona Robson community lists golf, but Del Webb at Rocking K and Trilogy Ridgecrest do not list a course of their own. At Power Ranch, the golf club is separate from the HOA.