Homes For Sale in Dreamland VillaDreamland Villa: Mesa’s Original 55+ Community
An affordable, friendly 55+ community with two clubhouses, a restaurant, and a lot of history. Here’s what to know before you buy — the good and the fine print.
Curious about Dreamland Villa? Reach out any time — we’re glad to help.
Dreamland Villa holds a special place in Arizona history: it was Mesa’s very first 55+ community. The Farnsworth family broke ground in 1958 and opened the doors in January 1959 — a full year before Del Webb opened Sun City. Today it’s a settled, friendly community of about 2,732 homes spread across 800 acres, with two clubhouses, a longtime restaurant, and a price range that still fits a lot of budgets. It’s a great value in the East Valley — as long as you go in knowing a few things unique to an older community.
Quick snapshot
Location: Mesa, AZ (northeast Mesa) — on a Maricopa County island (see below)
Opened: January 1959 · completed 1978 · Builder: Farnsworth Homes
Homes: about 2,732, on 800 acres — Mesa’s first 55+ community
Type: age-restricted 55+ — block-built homes, generally single-level
Good to know: affordable, with two clubhouses, pools, and John’s Villa Restaurant on site
Why buyers choose Dreamland Villa
- Affordability. One of the more budget-friendly ways into a 55+ home in the East Valley.
- Real amenities. Two clubhouses, two pools and a spa, an exercise room, and dozens of clubs and activities.
- A restaurant on site. John’s Villa Restaurant has been a community favorite for many years.
- History and character. Mesa’s original 55+ community, with mature streets and a welcoming feel.
- A central Mesa location. Close to shopping, dining, health care, and the freeways.
Where Dreamland Villa sits
Dreamland Villa is in northeast Mesa, close to everyday shopping, restaurants, and medical care, with easy freeway access to the rest of the Valley. You’re near the Salt River and the northeast Valley’s outdoor recreation, and Phoenix Sky Harbor is a reasonable drive. It’s an established, convenient location — the kind of place where everything you need day to day is close by.
Age rules
Dreamland Villa is an age-restricted 55+ community. As with most 55+ communities, the exact rules on who can live there — and any limited allowance for younger residents — are set in the community’s governing documents. Rules like these can change, and they aren’t always easy to find. Before you buy, we’ll confirm the current age rules for you so there are no surprises.
Homes at Dreamland Villa
Dreamland Villa’s homes were built by Farnsworth Homes in block (masonry) construction, and they’re generally single-level. Here’s a piece of local history that affects the homes: back when they were built, the City of Mesa capped block walls at eight feet. Because of that, ceilings here are typically eight feet — Dreamland Villa came before the vaulted-ceiling designs that later Farnsworth communities used to get more height. It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind of thing we can walk you through so you know what you’re looking at.
Because the community dates to the late 1950s, condition and updates vary a lot from home to home. Some are beautifully updated; others are more original and priced accordingly. That range is good news if you’re watching your budget — there’s often something here to fit.
Two things to check on older homes
Septic systems. Some of the original homes are still on septic rather than city sewer. If a septic system fails, that home has to connect to the city sewer — a real cost worth knowing about up front. It’s exactly the kind of thing we check during the inspection period.
General condition. Roofs, cooling, plumbing, and electrical all deserve a close look in a home this age. Having us on your side during inspections is where that pays off.
Important: the county island & fire coverage
Dreamland Villa sits on a Maricopa County island — a pocket of unincorporated county land surrounded by the City of Mesa. Because the community is not inside Mesa’s city limits, homeowners here are not covered by the city’s fire and ambulance service. Instead, you carry a separate fire and ambulance subscription. It’s usually not expensive, but it’s a real line item and something many buyers don’t expect. We’ll help you confirm the current provider and cost before you buy — it’s an easy thing to sort out once you know to ask.
Amenities & daily life
For an affordable community, Dreamland Villa offers a lot to do across its two clubhouses, Read Hall and Farnsworth Hall:
- Two swimming pools and a spa.
- Exercise room.
- Shuffleboard and croquet courts.
- Card rooms, a computer club, and dozens of social clubs.
- John’s Villa Restaurant, a longtime community gathering spot.
- A large meeting hall for events and gatherings.
One note on the community: Dreamland Villa once had its own golf course. Over the years it was closed and built over with homes and townhomes, so there’s no golf inside the community today — though there’s plenty of public golf nearby in Mesa.
About the recreation center: membership in the rec center is voluntary — but it’s highly recommended. Your membership helps fund and support the clubhouses, pools, and activities that make the community what it is. We’ll explain how it works so you can decide.
HOA & fees (2026)
Dreamland Villa keeps dues low, with a couple of one-time fees when you buy. Here are the current 2026 figures.
| Fee | 2026 amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual HOA fee | $220 per person | Community common areas & services |
| Monthly fee (condos/patio homes only) | Varies | Applies only to certain condo/patio homes — confirm per home |
| Transfer fee (one-time) | $400 | Paid at title transfer |
| Capital improvement fee (one-time) | $350 | Paid at purchase |
| Recreation center membership | Voluntary | Optional but highly recommended to support amenities |
Good to know: Remember to factor in the separate fire/ambulance subscription (county island) and, on an older home, any future sewer hookup if it’s still on septic. Fees can change through the Association, and what’s covered can vary by home. We’ll help you add up the full picture before you buy.
Is Dreamland Villa right for you?
A great fit if you…
- Want an affordable 55+ home in an established Mesa community.
- Like real amenities and an on-site restaurant on a budget.
- Appreciate history, character, and a friendly, settled feel.
- Don’t mind doing a little homework on an older home to get a great value.
Worth knowing before you buy…
- It’s a county island, so you’ll carry a separate fire/ambulance subscription.
- Some older homes are still on septic — a failed system means a sewer hookup.
- These are older homes; condition varies widely, so inspect closely.
- Ceilings are generally eight feet, and there’s no golf inside the community anymore.
None of these are dealbreakers — they’re just the honest fine print of a well-established, affordable community. Tell us what matters most and we’ll help you weigh it.
See what’s for sale in Dreamland Villa
Live MLS listings, updated throughout the day.
See Homes for Sale Contact UsNearby 55+ communities in Mesa
If you’re weighing Dreamland Villa against other Mesa options, these are the ones to compare:
Frequently asked questions
Is Dreamland Villa a 55+ community?
Yes — it’s an age-restricted 55+ community, and in fact it was the very first one in Mesa. We’ll confirm the exact age rules for you before you buy.
Why do I need extra fire and ambulance insurance?
Dreamland Villa is on a Maricopa County island, outside the City of Mesa’s limits, so the city’s fire and ambulance service doesn’t cover it. Homeowners carry a separate fire/ambulance subscription. It’s usually not expensive — we’ll help you confirm the current provider and cost.
Are the homes on septic or sewer?
It varies. Many homes are on city sewer, but some of the original homes are still on septic. If a septic system fails, that home has to connect to the sewer — a cost worth checking before you buy. We look at this during the inspection period.
Does Dreamland Villa have a golf course?
Not anymore. The community once had its own golf course, but it was closed and built over with homes and townhomes. There’s still plenty of public golf nearby in Mesa.
What do the fees cost?
For 2026, the HOA fee is $220 per person annually, plus one-time fees of $400 (transfer) and $350 (capital improvement). Certain condo and patio homes carry a monthly fee. Recreation center membership is voluntary but recommended. Fees can change — confirm current figures before you buy.
Weighing Dreamland Villa against the others? Ride with us
You don’t have to sort the East Valley out from your laptop. When you come to town, you ride with us and we drive — our gas, not yours. In a day we’ll run through Dreamland Villa and the other Mesa communities you’re weighing, walk the clubhouses, and you’ll cross half the list off yourself. The next day we go back into the finalists and tour real homes, so you can see the condition and the value for yourself.
It’s the easiest, least stressful way to go from “there are too many choices” to “this is the one.” Ask us about setting up your community tour →
Thinking about buying — or selling — in Dreamland Villa?
I’m Jarl Kubat, a licensed Arizona agent with 22+ years in the state’s 55+ communities — and I know the Mesa communities inside and out. Dreamland Villa is a great value, but an older community has details worth getting right. We’ll help you find the right home, understand the fine print, and negotiate with confidence.
Call or Text: (480) 710-6326 Contact
Listing accuracy: Property listings and availability are drawn from the Arizona Regional MLS and are believed accurate but not guaranteed. Listings change throughout the day; confirm details with your agent before relying on them.
Community information: Community facts are compiled from public sources and believed accurate but not guaranteed. HOA fees (2026) are current as provided and subject to change by the Association. Fire and ambulance coverage on this county island is provided by a separate subscription, not the City of Mesa; confirm the current provider and cost. Verify age rules, fees, sewer/septic status, home details, and coverage with the Association or your licensed agent before you buy. Jarl Kubat is a licensed Arizona real estate agent.
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