If You Were Moving To Tucson And Were Buying New (Oro Valley: sales, renting)

[Slytrix]

Where would you buy a new home in Tucson and why? Budget around $400,000.

Like mountain views, gated communities, single story and 3 car garage. Doesn't have to be gated but depending on HOA dues, it's desirable. Space between houses is nice too, doesn't have to be 1/2 acre but can I please have a little breathing room Lol. Probably looking for 2000-2600 ft.

We are taking a road trip in a few weeks and don't know the areas very well. Have driven by on the freeway many times and that's about it. We are retired but don't want to live in a 55 and over necessarily but are open to it.

Thanks

[laststoptucson]

If schools weren't an issue, I liked west of I-10, along Silverbell, probably anywhere from Speedway/Grant, north. Close-ish to downtown, close to freeway, nice views and open spaces.

We ended up in Continental Reserve though, with about 1/3 acre, in a gated community. Check out west of Silverbell, between Ina and Twin Peaks. There are some beautiful views there, some bordering Saguaro National Park. It's a little more congested the closer you get to Silverbell, but there are some big lots in Sombrero Peak Estates, Amber Crest, Sunset Ranch Estates and Ironwood Reserve.

[Slytrix]

That's a big help. Approx how old are the homes in those areas?

[laststoptucson]

It varies from area to area, but I'd say a good average is 15 or so. Check out zip 85743. Also, I just messaged you more info.

[Slytrix]

Thanks LST. I will check out Oro Valley as well.

[shpitz]

We moved here in March from IL, renting right now in OV, and settled on a new build from Lennar.

Eagles Summit at Vistoso New Home Community - Oro Valley - Tucson, Arizona | Lennar Homes

They make what's called a NextGen house where the house is really two separated living spaces (separate entry door as well as separate piece of the side-yard, there is access between the units inside the house), great if you have parents you need to support. We chose the Stanford model since we have young kids still.

Not gated, and our HOA is $24/mo.

With gated, you usually start @ $60/mo in Marana, here in OV it is usually ~$75/mo for gated.

There's Maracay Homes, which we thought is way over-priced, a new subdivison that is called Center Point Vistoso, which is comprised of 4 gated sub-subdivisions, each has its own gate.

https://www.maracayhomes.com/communi...ointe-vistoso/

Be ready for $130/mo HOA since it is gated as well has a community center with pool.

There's Meritage Homes, https://www.meritagehomes.com/search/tucson-az/

You should also consider Dove Mountain, which is part of Marana, very well done, golf courses, great views, several builders, but for us was too remote.

[Slytrix]

Hey shpitz thanks for those links. Was already looking at the Lennar homes @ Eagles Summit but the Maracay homes look really nice as well.

How big are the lots in Eagles Summit?

[shpitz]

Smallest are 8100 sqft, most are 8700-9500, quite a few are 10000+.

I've attached the site plot.

Maracay is very nice, but from our perspective, you pay a great price for it...

Meritage also offers gated communities, and they are a bit more reasonable than Maracay from our experience.

What Lennar did in Eagles Summit cannot be beat, they provide so much and yet charge reasonably for it.

We were also very impressed with Mattamy.

From the sales people experience perspective, Jill who runs Lennar is #1, Mike from Mattamy (he was in Dove Mountain) is #2, then all the rest at the bottom of the barrel

[Slytrix]

OK, you're the bomb.

How far along are they with this project?

[shpitz]

11 lots sold, 1st family (lot 10) moved in already, we're hoping to be #2

There are 4 spec homes and 15 lots available right now.