Sunland Village Homes for Sale in Mesa, AZ: 55+ Living in Sunland Village and Sunland Village East

Sunland Village and Sunland Village East are two separate age-restricted (55+) communities in east Mesa, each with its own association, pools, fitness centers, hobby shops and clubs. Together they hold more than 5,000 homes, from single-family houses to condos and villas, with executive golf in or beside each community.

I'm Terry Day with DeLex Realty. When a buyer wants an established 55+ community with a full club calendar and a smaller, easy-care home, I often start with the two Sunland Villages. The names cause a lot of confusion, so this guide sorts out which is which, what each one has, and what to check before you buy.

See all Sunland Village homes for saleCall Terry: 602-483-4665

Sunland Village vs Sunland Village East

These are not two phases of one community. They are two nonprofit associations with their own boards, offices, websites and amenities. Both were developed by Farnsworth; the Sunland Village association describes its community as the second of four Farnsworth developments in the East Valley.

• Sunland Village is the original. It was built from 1974 to 1984 and has 2,685 homes and about 4,000 year-round and seasonal residents. The main entrance is at Diamond Avenue and Greenfield Road, and the community runs from Broadway Road to Southern Avenue, between Greenfield Road and Higley Road.
• Sunland Village East sits farther east, near Baseline and Sossaman roads. Its association was incorporated in 1984. It has 2,437 homes: 1,657 single-family homes and 780 condo units.

Which one fits usually comes down to home age, home style and which clubhouse you would use. When a buyer gives me a budget, I pull listings from both so you can see them on the same day.

Clubhouses and amenities

Sunland Village has a main complex with an auditorium, fitness center, exercise classroom, library, activity rooms and the association office. It has two pool complexes with three pools in all and a jacuzzi at each: the South Pool next to the main complex, and the North Pool. Outdoor amenities include four tennis courts, pickleball courts, shuffleboard, a bocce court, horseshoes and a barbecue ramada area. The hobby rooms include a wood shop, a lapidary and silversmith shop, a ceramics room, a stained glass workshop, a fiber art room and a billiards room.

Sunland Village East lists three pools and two heated jacuzzis, two fitness centers (one at the North Complex and one at the South Complex), nine lighted pickleball courts, six lighted tennis courts, shuffleboard, bocce, eight horseshoe pits and a softball field. Inside, there is a woodshop, ceramics, lapidary and arts and crafts studios, a stitchers room for sewing and quilting, a computer and tech lab, billiards, card rooms, a library and an auditorium used for dinners and dances. There is also a dog park and an on-site restaurant, Fat Willy's.

The buildings are older than what you will see in a brand-new community. I tell buyers to walk through on a weekday morning and judge them by what you would actually use.

Activities and clubs

Both communities have a long list of chartered clubs. Sunland Village names groups such as the Arts and Crafts League, Technology Club, Pickleball, Tennis, the Songsters, the Women's Club, Billiards, Bocce, Hiking, Horseshoes, Shuffleboard and the Off Broadway Players theater group, plus the craft clubs that run the shops. Sunland Village East says it has more than 70 clubs and interest groups.

Questions worth asking on a tour:

• When does the pickleball club hold open play and lessons for new players?
• Which fitness classes run in the morning, and are they busier in winter?
• Do the wood shop and lapidary shop require a safety orientation before you can use them?
• What events are on this season's calendar?

Golf

Sunland Village East Golf Club is the community's public 18-hole executive-length course, and 9-hole play is also offered. Ask the golf club how resident play works.

Golf is not on the original Sunland Village association's amenity list. The Sunland Village Golf Course, an 18-hole executive layout, sits beside the community, and course listings show it open to the public. If golf is a priority, call the course directly about resident options.

Homes along a fairway get the views and the cart traffic. If you want quiet, I can filter for interior lots.

Home types and floor plans

You will find single-family homes, condos and villas here, and many have been remodeled, so the same floor plan can feel very different from one house to the next. The Sunland Village association posts floor plan pages for its single-family homes, its villas and the Towers condominiums on its website. For any home you like, ask Terry for the floor plan and I will send what is available.

HOA basics

Each community has its own association, CC&Rs and rules, and each sets its own fees. Before your inspection period ends, review:

• The CC&Rs, including the age rules, guest rules and rental rules
• The budget and reserve study
• What the association maintains on condos and villas, and what the owner maintains
• Any transfer or capital fees due at closing

I read these documents with my buyers so there are no surprises after closing.

Buying tips

Inspect older homes carefully. Most homes here were built from the mid-1970s on. I ask inspectors to look closely at the roof, HVAC age, plumbing, the electrical panel, windows and any past additions.

Know who maintains what. On condos and villas, confirm which exterior items the association covers.

Ask about assumable loans. Some sellers have FHA or VA loans that a qualified buyer may be able to assume, subject to lender approval. See my assumable mortgage homes page, and I check every listing for this before a showing.

Who it fits, by home features

The Sunland Villages work well for buyers who want a single-level home, condo or villa in an established 55+ setting with pools, courts, hobby shops and executive golf nearby. They may not fit a buyer who wants new construction, a large modern floor plan or a gated entry.

Comparing Sunland Village villas and condos with other low-maintenance options? See 55+ condos and lock-and-leave homes in Phoenix.

Looking at the newest of the Farnsworth communities? My Sunland Springs Village guide covers its 27-hole golf club, two rec complexes and homes, and how it differs from Sunland Village and Sunland Village East.

For the newest homes on the market, see Sunland Village new listings.

Want a private pool? See Sunland Village homes with a pool.

Want room for a golf cart? See Sunland Village homes with a golf cart garage for the association rules and current listings that mention a cart.

Questions buyers ask

Is Sunland Village in Mesa a 55+ community?
Yes. Sunland Village and Sunland Village East are both age-restricted 55+ communities. The rules are in each community's CC&Rs, so confirm the details for your situation with the association.

What is the difference between Sunland Village and Sunland Village East?
They are separate communities with separate associations, amenities and golf. Sunland Village was built from 1974 to 1984; the Sunland Village East association was formed in 1984.

Does Sunland Village have golf?
Sunland Village East has its own public 18-hole executive course. The Sunland Village Golf Course, also an executive layout, sits beside the original Sunland Village.

Are there pickleball courts?
Yes. Sunland Village has a pickleball club and courts, and Sunland Village East lists nine lighted pickleball courts.

What types of homes are in Sunland Village?
Single-family homes plus condos and villas. Sunland Village East has 1,657 single-family homes and 780 condo units.

Can I assume a seller's loan in Sunland Village?
Sometimes. If the seller has an assumable FHA or VA loan, a qualified buyer may take it over, subject to lender approval. Call me at 602-483-4665.

Nearby 55+ communities to compare

Mesa has several established 55+ communities close together, so it is easy to compare them in one day: Leisure World, Fountain of the Sun and the rest of the Mesa 55+ communities. For the big picture, see my Arizona 55+ community guide and the moving to Mesa guide.