explore Sun City Festival.

Sun City Festival is a 55+ community located in Buckeye in the far West Valley. It's one of the more remote options in the Phoenix area — you're about 15 minutes from the nearest grocery stores and shopping and dining in Surprise, and roughly 50 minutes from Sky Harbor Airport. If convenience and proximity to the city are top priorities for you, that's worth factoring in.

But here's the trade-off: what Sun City Festival gives up in location, it more than makes up for in value. In terms of bang for your buck, this community is tough to beat anywhere in the Valley. The amenities are genuinely luxurious and resort-style — two community centers with stunning pools, well-equipped fitness centers, an on-site restaurant, pickleball, tennis, and bocce ball courts, plus a full lineup of clubs and activities to keep life interesting.

The area itself is considered safe and quiet, and the backdrop of the White Tank Mountains gives the community a scenery that a lot of other Valley communities simply can't match. Homes range from the mid-2000s to brand new construction, so there are options across a wide range of budgets.

If you're the type of buyer who wants the most luxurious lifestyle for your dollar and doesn't mind being a little further out, Sun City Festival deserves a serious look.

Pros:

Affordable, quiet, newer homes, expansive amenities, very active

Cons:

Crowded golf, remote location, not gated