1234 W Madero Avenue, Mesa
(602) 483-4665
DeLex Realty
Dobson Ranch is a master-planned community of about 2,000 acres in west Mesa, roughly bounded by the US 60, the Loop 101 and Guadalupe Road. Building started in 1973, and a 2013 report counted about 5,000 homes, mostly single-family, along with seven man-made lakes, HOA pools and recreation centers, and the city-owned Dobson Ranch Golf Course.
Dobson Ranch was one of the Valley's early master-planned communities, and it still has the lakes, parks and pools that drew buyers in the 1970s. It sits close to two freeways, a major hospital campus and Mesa Community College. Here is what I want you to know before you tour.
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Dobson Ranch sits in west Mesa. The US 60 runs along the north side and the Loop 101 along the west, with Guadalupe Road to the south. Sources differ on the east edge: some say Alma School Road and others say Extension Road. Either way, you are a few minutes from both freeways, which makes commuting to Tempe, Chandler and Phoenix simple.
Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Cardon Children's Medical Center share a campus at Dobson and Southern, and Mesa Community College is nearby. Valley Metro light rail's Sycamore/Main Street station, which opened in 2008 with a park-and-ride, is a short drive north of the US 60.
The land has a long history. Wilson Wesley Dobson started raising cattle here in 1886, and the Dobson family's water rights still fill the lakes. In 1971 American Continental Homes agreed to buy about 2,000 acres from the family, and the first model homes opened in October 1973. Building continued through 1999.
Most homes are single-family, many of them single-level, with townhomes, patio homes and condos mixed in. A 2013 Arizona Republic report counted about 5,000 homes and 15,000 residents. Because most homes were built in the 1970s and 1980s, updates vary a lot, and I look closely at roofs, plumbing, electrical panels and HVAC on every home.
The seven lakes are the signature feature, and the HOA cares for them along with about 65 acres of common areas. The 2013 report counted three recreation centers and four pools. La Casita has tennis, a pool, a splash pad and a playground. Los Altos has a junior Olympic-size pool, a leisure pool, pickleball and basketball. Saratoga has a pool and picnic areas.
Dobson Ranch Golf Course, at 2155 S Dobson Road, is an 18-hole course designed by Red Lawrence and open to the public since 1974. It is the City of Mesa's course, and it has a Toptracer driving range. Dobson Ranch Park adds a lake, sports fields and an inclusive playground, and the Dobson Ranch Library is close by.
Dobson Ranch is in Mesa Public Schools. Listings in the community show Washington Elementary, Rhodes Junior High and Dobson High School, which opened in 1981 and is named after the Dobson family. A community this size may be served by more than one elementary school, so please confirm schools for a specific address directly with the district.
Listings name the association as the Dobson Ranch HOA. It manages the lakes, recreation centers, pools and common areas, and it enforces CC&Rs on exterior changes, parking and similar items. Some condo and townhome sections may have their own associations as well. I pull the current HOA documents and dues for each home we look at.
Dobson Ranch gives you a central location and community pools and lakes that many newer areas do not have. Since homes date from the 1970s through the 1990s, condition and updates matter more than the floor plan. Ask me to pull permits and check for upgraded systems. Some sellers may have loans a buyer can take over, so read my guide to buying a home with an assumable mortgage in Arizona. My first steps to buying a home in Arizona covers the rest of the process.
Buyers compare Dobson Ranch homes on updates, lot position and closeness to a lake or park. I price your home against recent sales with a similar level of remodeling, and I highlight the lakes, pools and freeway access in the marketing. My Mesa home values seller guide and my article on how to price your Arizona home to sell show how I set the list price.
Where is Dobson Ranch?
Dobson Ranch is in west Mesa, ZIP 85202, roughly between the US 60 on the north, the Loop 101 on the west and Guadalupe Road on the south.
How many lakes does Dobson Ranch have?
Dobson Ranch has seven man-made lakes, filled using the Dobson family's historic water rights.
Is Dobson Ranch Golf Course private?
No. Dobson Ranch Golf Course is the City of Mesa's 18-hole course and has been open to the public since 1974.
When was Dobson Ranch built?
The first model homes opened in October 1973, and building continued through 1999.
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Community details come from public sources and can change. Confirm HOA, builder, utility and school information for a specific home before you buy.
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