Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch - Florence, AZ

We visited in 2022 and thought this was where we wanted to spend our retirement. We bought a new spec home in the Radiance section on the 45+ side of Merrill Ranch. Yes, I said 45+ which we learned after moving in. Not a big deal, just a fact. Pretty quickly we learned that just about every house in our section, and many in other sections had issues. Structural, windows out of alignment, roof leaks, etc. Pulte is a terrible builder and doesn’t stand behind their product. The facilities and amenities here are great. There’s always something to do, if you can get in. The neighborhood is still under construction, with many more houses being built. When we left in 2023, we could never get a tee time, I had to sign up as soon as the calendar opened for exercise classes, which were great if you could get in. There were some fun activitles around the pool, but again, always crowded. We were told the builder had no plans to add another pool or golf course or club house, etc. When it came time to run errands, we had to plan for a long day since everything was 30+ minutes away. It didn’t help that there was only one highway (N Hunt Highway) in and out of the neighborhood, and God forbid there was an accident. You’d get stuck for hours. Although it was nice having a grocery store close by, their prices were much more than the grocery stores in Casa Grande or Queen Creek. We had to pay for convenience. The restaurant “Grill” was up and down depending on the manager. In one year they went through 3 managers. They were alway changing the hours without any notice. Between the structural issues, poorly run HOA, inability to enjoy many of the amenities and lack of access to anything close by without battling Hunt Highway, we decided to sell our home and move away. We do miss our friends we made there, but that’s about it.

I moved here two years ago from Northern Pa. It was the best move I've ever made, wish I would have done it sooner. I love my home, my neighbors are the greatest, the people that operate the facility are kind and helpful. It's quiet, but lots of things to do. Not to big that we get lost. Weather is just heavenly, sky at night unbelievable. People all help each other here. This was a God send to me. Last year my husband died of lung cancer, my dear friends, neighbors and other widows helped me pull thru. The prices are just right, HOA not over the moon!!! Clean, clean, and clean. HOA people keep up with all of us following the rules!!! I love that, no crappy stuff on the house, in the streets, etc. I loved being close to my neighbors, feel safe. They just constructed a doggie park..absolutely the greatest. And all the beautiful cactus, we all have them, and when they start to bloom, I'm surely in heaven. Thank you Del Webb for my beautiful spot at Merrill Ranch!!!!!

First off, we generally enjoy the lifestyle in this community. We have made many friends and the amenities are top-notch. It is a great place to live. I would give the community 4.0 stars.

However, one thing to consider when researching 55+ communities, in addition to the lifestyle, is the builder. In this case, the builder is Pulte. If considering this community, I would advise you to buy a resale house rather than a new construction. The new houses being thrown up as quickly as possible are no match for existing houses built five or more years ago.

It's a shame that the construction is so shoddy, since this really is a nice community in most other respects.

We spent our first year as a snowbird Nov-April, simply loved being there. The people are so friendly, there are many activities of which the gym, which I never went to one previously was my favorite. So many machines, even managed to lose 20 lbs. It is a social club, you see some of the same residents every day, miss them if they are not there. The hot tub is wonderful for all those aches and pains. They have barbecues, 2-3 day trips to Vegas and California. You can be as busy as you want to be. The lot we have is 11000 sq ft, wonderfully landscaped, 600 sq ft patio and a firepit. We have already started to pack to drive back in November, can't wait to see our new Canadian and new American friends. I can't say enough about Anthem, it was the right decision for us and I am sure would be for anyone.

The only thing I do not like here is the close proximity to your neighbors. The homes are pretty close together, just like the rest of AZ. I can hear my neighbors talk on the phone if I am outside. I have been here 5 winters as a snowbird, and it is very nice. Everything I need is within bike riding distance. The grounds and Community Center are kept immaculate. It is not a problem to drive a few miles to get to bigger stores, and they are improving the only road here…Hunt Highway. If you like a place with no traffic and no hustle and bustle, you will love it here. They have wide streets with sidewalks and street lights…some developments do not have this! HOA fees are about $120 a month. Garbage pickup is about $20 a month. Electricity and gas are reasonable…but watch out for the water! $70+ a month regardless how much you use. Overall, it is a great place but the lots need to be bigger for more privacy. The HOA is pretty picky about what you can and cannot do to the outside area of your home.