Fountain of the Sun

Independent Assessment

Fountain of the Sun's housing stock was independently confirmed to be genuinely mixed across three distinct product types built at different times — original manufactured-home lots, UDC-built single-family homes, and later-added patio-home and townhome sections — which explains the unusually wide reported HOA fee range ($42 to $431 per month across sources). A buyer comparing a single reported fee figure against another Mesa 55-plus community without accounting for which Fountain of the Sun home type it applies to would likely be making an apples-to-oranges comparison; the fee range is treated as inherently type-dependent rather than presented as a single misleadingly precise figure.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers who want a guard-gated community with an 18-hole public golf course and genuine flexibility across home types — from a lower-cost manufactured home to a conventional single-family house to a low-maintenance patio home or townhome — are the best fit for Fountain of the Sun. Its Superstition Mountains views and east-Mesa location also suit buyers who want a bit more distance from central Mesa's denser corridors.

Homes, Builders & Development History

United Development Corporation (UDC) developed Fountain of the Sun starting in the early 1970s, opening the community's 18-hole golf course in 1972. The community originally offered manufactured-home lots alongside UDC-built conventional homes, later adding patio-home and townhome neighborhoods, ultimately reaching approximately 2,296-2,300 homes across 582 acres.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

As of the last update, the reported median list price has been in the roughly $320,000-$330,000 range, though pricing varies substantially across the community's three home types — manufactured homes, single-family homes, and patio homes/townhomes. Buyers should compare recent closed sales specifically within the home type and section they are considering.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

There is no active builder new-construction program identified in Fountain of the Sun as of the last update — the community is understood to be fully resale across all three of its home types. Buyers should budget for a full independent inspection appropriate to the specific home type and construction era, and should confirm financing eligibility early if considering a manufactured home.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes in Fountain of the Sun are subject to Maricopa County property tax, assessed and billed at the county level; buyers should confirm the current rate and a specific home's assessed value directly with the Maricopa County Assessor. Manufactured homes in particular should be confirmed for their titling status (real property versus personal property) since this affects both financing and insurance requirements, separately from site-built homes in the same community.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

Fountain of the Sun's lifestyle centers on its 18-hole public golf course, with the community's genuinely mixed housing stock — manufactured homes, single-family homes, and patio/townhome sections — giving buyers a wide range of price points and maintenance levels within the same guard-gated perimeter. Many homesites offer views of either the golf course or the Superstition Mountains to the east.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

Fountain of the Sun sits in east Mesa, with its address on S. 80th Street, roughly 30 miles from central Phoenix. The location places it within the broader east-Mesa cluster of 55-plus communities alongside Apache Wells, Sunland Village East, and Sunland Springs Village, with reasonable access to US-60 for travel across the East Valley.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

Fountain of the Sun is marketed and operated as a guard-gated, 55-plus active-adult community, consistent with the HOPA framework used across Arizona's age-restricted communities. Fountain of the Sun's specific recorded CC&R age-restriction language, including whether an 80/20 under-55 occupancy allowance applies as it does at some neighboring East Mesa communities, was not independently obtained; buyers should confirm the exact current wording directly with the association.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Because Fountain of the Sun mixes manufactured homes, single-family homes, and patio/townhome product built across several decades, buyers should expect meaningfully different resale value, financing terms, and HOA obligations depending on which home type and section they're considering — manufactured homes in particular can carry different financing requirements than site-built homes. Buyers should confirm which fee applies to a specific home rather than rely on a single reported HOA figure for the community as a whole.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Fountain of the Sun's guard-gated perimeter and public 18-hole course place it alongside Apache Wells and Leisure World as one of the more amenity-forward, gated options in the broader Mesa 55-plus cluster, while its genuinely mixed housing stock (manufactured, single-family, and patio/townhome) gives it a wider price spread than the more single-product-type communities in the Farnsworth-family cluster (Sunland Village, Sunland Village East, and Sunland Springs Village).

Current Listings

A connected local agent can provide current available resale inventory and recent closed comparables for the specific home type (manufactured, single-family, or patio/townhome) within Fountain of the Sun.

What types of homes are in Fountain of the Sun?

A genuine mix: original manufactured-home lots, UDC-built conventional single-family homes, and later-added patio-home and garden-townhome sections — roughly 2,296-2,300 homes total across 582 acres.

Is Fountain of the Sun gated?

Yes, it is a guard-gated, 55-plus active-adult golf community.

Does Fountain of the Sun have a golf course?

Yes — an 18-hole executive golf course (Fountain of the Sun Country Club), open to the public, which opened in 1972.

How much are HOA fees at Fountain of the Sun?

Reported figures range widely, roughly $42-$431 per month depending on home type and section, with one source citing about $380/quarter as typical for most homes. Confirm the current fee for the specific home directly with the association.