Chandler is one of the cities which makes up the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, as do its neighboring cities of Mesa, Tempe, and Gilbert. However, Chandler has less of a big-city feel with the unspoiled desert land of the Gila River Indian Community at its southern border. This means that a short drive in one direction brings you to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, while a short drive in the other direction brings you into the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
The population of Chandler is about 250,000, out of the almost 5 million that make up the Greater Phoenix area. The town was founded in 1912 and a number of historic buildings remain. The city is also noted for its many recreational areas, parks, gardens, aquatic centers, and museums.
The attractive climate is what brings many people to Central Arizona initially, and that’s also part of Chandler’s appeal. There are roughly 300 sunny days a year, compared to about 200 for the U.S. as a whole. This is a big draw if you have an interest in such pursuits as hiking, tennis, golf, or pickleball.
Chandler offers a choice of 55+ active adult communities of various sizes and price ranges.
The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo
Mid $300s – High $400s
The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo has 278 one- and two-bedroom condos and penthouses ranging from 862 square feet to 1,577 square feet. Amenities include a heated pool with cabanas, a fitness center, a yoga studio, and a clubhouse with billiards and a media center.
The property is a five-minute drive from downtown Ocotillo, with a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s also a five-minute drive to the Ocotillo Golf Club, a 27-hole course offering preferential rates to residents of The Cays.
Request more information about The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo.
Lone Tree
High $400s – High $600s
Lone Tree is a 55+ gated community of 72 homes. It’s a five-minute drive from the East Hunt Highway, which marks the end of Chandler and the start of the undeveloped land of the Gila River Indian Community. In the other direction, Lone Tree is 30 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
All 72 single-family homes have a minimum of two bedrooms, with some having a den, and larger homes have a second den or third bedroom. Homes range from 1,715 square feet to 2,509 square feet with a two-and-a-half-car garage and two to two-and-a-half bathrooms.
There are no shared amenities, but Lone Tree is connected to the Lone Tree Golf Club by a footpath. Residents can buy a monthly membership for access to the course and use of other facilities such as The Grille restaurant and the club’s hiking and biking trails.
Request more information about Lone Tree.
Solera
Mid $300s – Mid $500s
Solera is a gated 55+ community of 1,179 single-family homes. It’s a two-minute drive from the East Hunt Highway and a 30-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. There are ten home models ranging from 1,151 to 2,421 square feet with two bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and a two- to two-and-a-half-car garage.
Solera has a number of amenities including a clubhouse, a ballroom, a fitness center, an arts and crafts center, two outdoor pools, four tennis courts, and courts for pickleball, bocce, and shuffleboard. Also, the community is a one-minute drive from the Lone Tree Golf Club, an 18-hole public golf course.
The community supports numerous social clubs and leisure activities, including dancing, woodworking, ceramics, Bible study groups, gardening, bridge, theater, and a singles group.
Request more information about Solera.
Springfield
Mid $200s – Low $500s
Springfield is a 55+ community of 742 single-family homes that were built from 1996 to 2000. It’s a 15-minute drive from Downtown Chandler, and 35 minutes from Phoenix International Airport. There are a large number of models available, ranging from 930 to 2,382 square feet with two bedrooms and one to three bathrooms. All homes also have a two- to three-and-a-half-car garage.
Amenities include a clubhouse, a fitness center, two outdoor pools, a movie theater, and courts for tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, and basketball. The many social clubs cover interests as diverse as bible study and poker, with groups for card and board games, water volleyball, gardening, and golf. Springfield is across the street from the Springfield Golf Resort.
Request more information about Springfield.
Sunbird
Low $200s – Mid $400s
Sunbird offers 1,631 single-family homes for active adults over 55. Sunbird is a two-minute drive from the southern end of Chandler, a 10-minute drive from Interstate 10, and a 35-minute drive from the international airport in Phoenix.
One of the most affordable communities near Phoenix, there are 20 home models in Sunbird. The smallest offers 745 square feet for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home with a one-car garage. The largest homes available are 1,680 square feet which include two bedrooms plus a den, two bathrooms, and a two-and-a-half-car garage
This larger development offers many amenities including a substantial clubhouse, an 18-hole golf course, a fitness center, several arts and crafts centers, two pools, four tennis courts, and six shuffleboard courts. There are many clubs and classes, including cards, singing, gardening, hiking, and arts and crafts.
