Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch: Homes For Sale in Florence, AZ Live MLS listings, updated all day — new construction and resale:Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch: The Complete 55+ Buyer’s Guide
Planning a retirement move to the southeast Valley? This is Del Webb’s 55+ community in Florence, Arizona — two pools, a championship golf course, a water park for the grandkids, and brand-new homes still being built. Here’s the full picture.
Quick note so you’re in the right place: this is Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch, in Florence, Arizona — the Del Webb community in the far southeast Valley. It is not the Sun City Anthem in Henderson, Nevada. Same builder family, different state. It’s also a separate community from Sun City and Sun City West in the West Valley, with its own associations and its own rules. This page is all about the Arizona one in Florence.
Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch is a Del Webb 55+ active adult community in Florence, at the southeast edge of the Phoenix metro. Del Webb started building here in 2006 and is planning about 3,800 homes — and here’s the part that makes it stand out: they’re still building. So a brand-new home is genuinely on the table.
From founder Jarl Kubat: “I’ve helped buyers weigh Arizona 55+ and retirement communities for more than 22 years, in both the West Valley and the East Valley. I live in Arizona Traditions in Surprise, so I know the West Valley Del Webb communities as a neighbor. When buyers ask me how Sun City Anthem compares, the honest answer is more home for the money, if the drive works for you. On every home here, I check two things first: the Florence bond and the two HOAs.”
If you’ve looked at Sun City Festival, read this
Sun City Anthem is essentially the sister community to Sun City Festival out in Buckeye. Same builder (Del Webb), same era, and the same golf pedigree — both courses are Gary Panks designs managed by Troon. The clubhouses feel related, the floor plans overlap, and the lifestyle is cut from the same cloth. The big differences are location (Anthem is southeast in Florence, Festival is west in Buckeye) and price — Florence tends to give you more home for the money. If you liked one, you owe the other a look, and we can show you both.
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How Sun City Anthem and Merrill Ranch actually work
This confuses buyers, so let’s clear it up. Merrill Ranch is the larger master-planned community, and it has two sides:
Sun City Anthem
The 55+ age-restricted side, built by Del Webb. Its own private clubhouse and amenities, for active adults only.
Anthem Parkside
The all-ages, family side of Merrill Ranch, with its own amenities — including the big water park.
Here’s the good part for a 55+ buyer: you get your own private, adults-only clubhouse and amenities on the Sun City side — the quiet, grown-up spaces — and access to the larger Merrill Ranch amenities, including the water park, when the grandkids come to town. In other words, you get the peace when you want it and the splash when they visit. That’s the best of both, and it’s a real selling point.
The amenities
The 48,000 sq ft clubhouse
A state-of-the-art fitness center, a restaurant and cyber café, a ballroom, and hobby and game rooms. The social heart of the 55+ side.
Indoor and outdoor pools
The indoor pool is the one that matters — you swim laps in January without a second thought. Plus the outdoor resort pool.
Poston Butte Golf Club
An 18-hole, 7,300-yard championship course — a Gary Panks design managed by Troon, winding through the community. See the Poston Butte Golf Club site for rates and tee times.
Big Splash Water Park
The Merrill Ranch water park. When the grandchildren visit, this is the answer to “what will we do with them?”
Courts
Pickleball, tennis, bocce, and horseshoes, plus scenic walking trails throughout.
Clubs & events
A full slate of social clubs and regular events — the Del Webb lifestyle, run at scale.
Sun City Anthem golf and pickleball
Golf and pickleball work differently here, so it helps to keep them apart.
Golf: Poston Butte Golf Club is an 18-hole, roughly 7,300-yard Gary Panks course, managed by Troon. According to the recorded community documents, it’s a public course owned by a separate golf-course owner, not the HOA. As a result, your HOA dues don’t pay for golf, and buying a home doesn’t give you an automatic right to play. Instead, you pay the club’s rates, like any other golfer. Want one of the Sun City Anthem homes on the fairway? Browse the golf course homes for sale, or compare communities on our golf course homes guide.
Pickleball: the pickleball, tennis, and bocce courts are community amenities on the Sun City side, paid for through your dues. We’ll confirm the current court count and any club details for you. Also, see how the courts stack up on our Arizona 55+ pickleball communities hub.
See what’s for sale in Sun City Anthem right now
New construction and resale, updated throughout the day.
Single-Family Homes Golf Course Homes👀 Watching for the right home?
With 22 floor plans, new construction and resales, and a community still being built, there’s a lot to sort through among Sun City Anthem homes. The right home — new or resale, the plan you want, on the lot you want — may not be listed today.
So tell us what matters and your budget, and we’ll watch the market and the builder’s releases for you. Tell Us What You’re Looking For
The homes
Sun City Anthem homes come in 22 single-family floor plans from Del Webb, roughly 1,100 to over 2,800 square feet. Because the community spans nearly two decades of building — from 2006 to today — you can shop three ways:
- Brand-new from Del Webb — pick your plan, lot, and finishes, or take a quick move-in home.
- Newer resales — recent construction, move-in ready, no build wait.
- Earlier-phase resales — often the best value, with mature landscaping and paid-off upgrades.
The value story is real here. Florence is farther out than the West Valley Sun Cities, and the pricing reflects it — you generally get more home for the money. If space matters more to you than being twenty minutes from Sky Harbor, that trade can work strongly in your favor.
The Sun City Anthem market right now
Naturally, buyers always ask us the same first question: is anything actually selling here? So here’s the latest MLS picture for Sun City Anthem homes, covering single-family homes in the community.
📅 As of October 2026 (MLS report run September 30, 2026) · single-family homes · refreshed regularly
What homes cost: Over the last 90 days, 28 single-family homes sold, from about $295,000 to about $645,000. The median was near $418,000 and the average near $427,000, at roughly 97% of list price, about $214 a square foot, and around 133 days on market. The homes that sold ran from about 1,283 to 2,569 square feet. At last check, asking prices ran from about $298,000 to about $649,900.
There were more than twice as many homes listed as sold in those 90 days. That usually gives buyers time to compare and room to negotiate, although every home is different.
Keep in mind that prices move as homes get reduced or the market speeds up. Ranges shift as the market changes, so call or text (480) 710-6326 to verify today’s numbers. You can also compare 50 communities on our Arizona 55+ market update.
Sun City Anthem homes for sale: see what’s listed now
Here are the Sun City Anthem homes for sale right now, single-family listings updated throughout the day, new construction and resale. Use the golf button above to see only homes on the course.
Want a newer home? See new and nearly new 55+ homes
This search shows builder inventory homes, homes still to be built, and lightly lived-in homes owned less than four years across Arizona 55+ communities.
Good to know: builders only put some of their homes on the MLS. The full list sits in each builder’s sales office. So tell us which communities you like most, and we’ll get you the most current list of homes for sale. Please call us before you visit a sales office, so we can register you with the builder from day one.
See New and Nearly New Homes Call or Text (480) 710-6326Sun City Anthem fees (2026)
Like most master-planned communities, you pay two associations — the Sun City Anthem side and the Merrill Ranch master.
| Fee | 2026 amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sun City Anthem HOA | $510 / quarter | The 55+ side |
| Merrill Ranch HOA | $135 / quarter | The master community |
| Combined | $645 / quarter | About $215/month |
One-time at closing
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sun City Anthem working capital | $1,530 | One-time |
| Merrill Ranch working capital | $270 | One-time |
| Community enhancement fee | 0.25% of sale price | About $1,000 on a $400,000 home |
| Transfer fee | Up to $300 | May be less, or none |
| Total at closing | Up to $2,100 + 0.25% | On top of your down payment and closing costs |
There are also disclosure fees of $365 and $385, one to each HOA. The seller usually pays those, but we confirm who pays at contract. To see how these costs compare across the Valley, check our Arizona 55+ HOA fees guide.
⚠ The Florence bond — do NOT skip this
Here’s one almost no other page will warn you about. Sun City Anthem homes can carry a Town of Florence assessment bond. On many homes it’s been paid off, and on a resale the seller usually pays whatever balance is left at closing — but not always, and the amounts vary.
This is exactly the kind of thing that can surprise a buyer after the fact. That’s why, before you write an offer on any specific home, we check the bond status and make sure it’s handled — who owes what, and who’s paying it at close. It’s one phone call, and it protects you from inheriting somebody else’s balance.
Ask Us to Check the Bond on a Home
Golf is separate from your HOA dues. Fees are current for 2026 as provided and subject to change — we confirm every figure, including the bond status on a specific home, before you commit.
Not 55 yet? There may be a door open.
Federal housing-for-older-persons law lets an age-restricted community keep a limited share of its homes occupied by residents under 55, and builders use that room. While Del Webb is still building here, they can generally sell a new home to buyers as young as 45. That’s why you’ll often see Sun City Anthem described as a 45/55+ community.
After a community is fully built out, however, it’s the community’s own decision whether to keep allowing a percentage of under-55 residents. Most keep that option; some don’t. It’s never automatic, and the exact percentage varies.
Don’t guess at it. The policy belongs to the builder and the association, and it can change. Call us and we’ll find out exactly where Sun City Anthem stands right now — in writing, before you write an offer. Getting it sorted early matters; it’s the kind of thing that can cost you your earnest money if it surfaces after your deadlines.
Age rules follow federal housing-for-older-persons law and the community’s recorded CC&Rs. Builder age policies vary and change without notice. Confirm current rules with the builder and the association before you buy.
Buying new from Del Webb? Talk to us first.
Del Webb is still building at Sun City Anthem, so a brand-new home is genuinely on the table. But here’s something a lot of buyers don’t realize: you can — and should — have your own agent when you buy new construction. The friendly agent in the Del Webb sales office represents Del Webb, and their job is to get the best deal for the builder. Ours is the opposite — to get the best deal for you.
On new-home purchases, the builder typically has buyer-agent representation built into their program. We’ll walk you through exactly how that works — in writing — before you commit to anything.
What we do in your corner:
- Negotiate price, upgrades, lot premiums, and closing timelines.
- Spot and negotiate builder incentives — rate buydowns, closing-cost credits, design-center dollars.
- Check the Florence bond and the full closing stack so nothing surprises you at the title company.
- Read the builder’s contract closely and protect your interests.
- Compare a new build honestly against the resales here — and against its sister community, Sun City Festival.
- Track the build and keep the builder accountable, right through closing day.
One rule worth remembering: reach out before you step into the sales office. Many builders require your agent to register with you on that first visit for us to represent you — so a quick call first protects your right to have us on your side. Once you’ve walked in alone, that door can close.
Location — the honest version
Sun City Anthem is in Florence, at the southeast edge of the metro in Pinal County. Let’s be straight about what that means, because it’s the biggest thing to weigh.
It’s farther out. Sky Harbor, downtown Phoenix, and the big-city stuff are a real drive from here — plan on it. This is the trade you’re making, and for some buyers it’s a dealbreaker.
But here’s the other side, and it’s why people choose Florence. Your money goes further — Sun City Anthem homes tend to give you more home, more lot, and less cost. It’s quieter and more open. Everyday needs — groceries, restaurants, medical — are handled locally and the town keeps growing. And you’re within reach of the East Valley (San Tan, Queen Creek, Gilbert) as it expands south toward you. If you want space and value and don’t need to be twenty minutes from the airport, Florence rewards you for it. Go make the drive on a weekday before you decide — we’ll go with you.
One more honest heads-up: the rail line
Part of being straight with you — the recorded community documents disclose that Merrill Ranch sits near an active rail line, with crossings at Felix Road and Merrill Ranch Parkway. Most homes sit well away from it, but on some lots you’ll hear the occasional train. It’s the kind of thing worth standing on the lot for — at a few different times of day — before you fall for a specific home. Tell us it matters, and we’ll steer you toward the quieter streets.
Sun City Anthem community rules worth knowing
From the recorded CC&Rs — and remember you’re bound by two rule sets here: the Sun City Anthem Association and the master Merrill Ranch Council:
| Topic | What the recorded CC&Rs say |
|---|---|
| Golf ownership & access | Poston Butte is a public course owned by a separate golf-course owner — not the HOA. It must stay public and open to all Merrill Ranch residents, but buying a home gives you no automatic right to play, and the owner (or its terms) can change |
| Parking, RVs & boats | Vehicles go in the garage, driveway, or parking pad. RVs and campers must be garaged — an RV may sit out only 72 hours a month with an Association permit; one boat up to 4 nights a month. Gas golf carts are banned — electric only |
| Pets | A “reasonable number” of common household pets (the Board sets the limit); no livestock or poultry; leashed or on your own lot |
| Leasing your home | Whole home only, 30-day minimum, no subleasing without Board approval; notify the Association within 10 days |
| Occupancy | No more than two people per bedroom |
| Exterior changes & fences | Prior Design Review Committee approval; fence and wall specifics come from the Design Guidelines |
| The 45–54 path | Only Del Webb can sell to a 45–54 buyer, and only while it’s still building. On a resale, a home generally needs a 55+ occupant — so the under-55 door here is a builder path, not a resale one |
Rules change by amendment, so we pull the current documents for the exact home before you rely on any of them.
Is Sun City Anthem the right retirement community for you?
A great fit if you…
- Want a brand-new Del Webb home — they’re still building.
- Want more home for the money and don’t mind being farther out.
- Golf, and want a Gary Panks championship course managed by Troon.
- Would use an indoor pool in the winter.
- Want grandkid-friendly extras — the water park is a genuine draw.
- Liked Sun City Festival but want to compare its sister community.
Worth knowing before you buy…
- It’s far southeast, in Florence. Sky Harbor and downtown are a real drive.
- The Florence bond — always check it on the specific home.
- Two HOAs — budget the combined $215/month, not one of them.
- The enhancement fee scales with your purchase price.
- Still building — expect construction activity while Del Webb finishes.
- Golf is a separate cost from your dues.
If any of that gives you pause, let’s talk it through. Sometimes a different community is the better fit — and we’d rather point you to the right home than the nearest one.
Comparing nearby communities?
- Sun City Festival — the sister community. Same Del Webb, same Gary Panks/Troon golf, out in Buckeye instead. Also still building.
- Robson Ranch — nearby in Eloy, a large Robson golf community, also still building.
- Province — Maricopa, a lakeside 55+ community.
- The Grand (formerly Sun City Grand) — the large upscale Del Webb community in Surprise, four golf courses.
- Sun City — Del Webb’s original in the West Valley, the most affordable of the Sun Cities, widest selection.
See all communities we serve → · Every Arizona 55+ community still building →
Overwhelmed by the options? Come tour with us
You don’t have to make this call from a screen. When you come out, you ride with us and we drive — our gas, not yours. In a day we’ll run through Sun City Anthem and the other 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, new and resale.
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 Sun City Anthem?
I’m Jarl Kubat, a licensed Arizona agent with 22+ years in Arizona’s 55+ communities. I’ll get you the real numbers — both HOAs, the enhancement fee, and the Florence bond status on any specific home — before you write an offer, not after.
Call or Text: (480) 710-6326 Contact PageSun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch: frequently asked questions
Sun City Anthem age rules
Is Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch a retirement community?
Yes. The Sun City Anthem side of Merrill Ranch is an age-restricted 55+ active adult community, and many buyers choose it for a retirement move. On a resale, a home generally needs at least one resident 55 or older. While Del Webb is still building, it can generally sell a new home to buyers as young as 45, which is why you may see it called 45/55+. Anthem Parkside, the other side of Merrill Ranch, is open to all ages. Confirm the current age rules with the builder and the association before you buy.
Can I buy here if I’m under 55?
Possibly. While Del Webb is still building, they can generally sell a new home to buyers as young as 45, using the flexibility federal housing-for-older-persons law allows. After buildout, it’s the community’s decision whether to keep allowing a share of under-55 residents — most do, some don’t. The policy belongs to the builder and association and can change, so call us and we’ll confirm where it stands right now, in writing.
Which Sun City Anthem is this?
Is this the same as Sun City Anthem in Nevada?
No. There’s a well-known Sun City Anthem in Henderson, Nevada — this is the Arizona one, Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch, in Florence, AZ, at the southeast edge of the Phoenix metro. It’s also separate from Sun City and Sun City West in the West Valley. Same Del Webb builder family, different communities. If you’re shopping the Phoenix area, this is the one in Florence.
What’s the difference between Sun City Anthem and Anthem Parkside?
Both are part of the larger Merrill Ranch master plan. Sun City Anthem is the 55+ age-restricted side with its own private, adults-only clubhouse and amenities. Anthem Parkside is the all-ages family side. As a Sun City resident you get your own exclusive 55+ amenities and access to the larger Merrill Ranch amenities, including the water park — so it’s quiet when you want it, and fun when the grandkids come.
Sun City Anthem fees and the Florence bond
What are the HOA fees?
Two associations: $510/quarter to Sun City Anthem and $135/quarter to Merrill Ranch — about $215/month combined. At closing there’s $1,800 in working capital ($1,530 + $270), a community enhancement fee of 0.25% of the sale price (about $1,000 on a $400,000 home), and a transfer fee of up to $300. That’s up to about $2,100 plus the 0.25%. Golf is separate, and the seller usually pays the disclosure fees. Also, ask us about the Florence bond. Confirm all figures with the associations.
What is the Florence assessment bond?
Many Sun City Anthem homes can carry a Town of Florence assessment bond. On many it’s been paid off; on a resale the seller usually pays any remaining balance at closing — but not always, and amounts vary. It’s exactly the kind of thing that surprises buyers after the fact. So before you write an offer on any specific home, we check the bond status and make sure it’s handled — who owes what, and who’s paying at close. One phone call, and it protects you.
Sun City Anthem homes and prices
What do Sun City Anthem homes sell for?
As of October 2026, Sun City Anthem single-family homes sold over the prior 90 days from about $295,000 to about $645,000, with a median near $418,000. There were 67 homes for sale and 26 sales in that window. Prices change as the market moves, so call or text (480) 710-6326 to verify today’s numbers.
Can I still buy a brand-new home here?
Yes — Del Webb is still building new Sun City Anthem homes, with about 3,800 planned and 22 floor plans. You can buy new, take a quick move-in home, or buy a resale. Talk to us before you visit the sales office; that’s what protects your right to have your own representation.
Golf, location and Sun City Festival
Do HOA dues pay for golf at Poston Butte?
No. Poston Butte is a public course owned by a separate golf-course owner, not the HOA. So your dues don’t cover golf, and owning a home here doesn’t give you an automatic right to play. Instead, you pay the club’s rates. The pickleball and tennis courts, on the other hand, are community amenities.
How is it related to Sun City Festival?
They’re essentially sister communities — same builder (Del Webb), same era, and the same golf pedigree, with both courses being Gary Panks designs managed by Troon. Festival is out west in Buckeye; Anthem is southeast in Florence. Florence generally gives you more home for the money. If you liked one, look at the other, and we can show you both.
How far is it from Phoenix?
It’s in Florence, at the far southeast edge of the metro — a real drive to Sky Harbor and downtown, so be honest with yourself about that. The upside is value: more home for the money, quieter, more open, with everyday shopping, dining, and medical handled locally. Make the drive on a weekday before you commit — we’ll go with you.
Working with an agent
Who is the best real estate agent for Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch?
Look for an agent who works mostly in 55+ communities and knows Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch’s fees, age rules and resale market. Founder Jarl Kubat of Arizona 55+ Communities Real Estate (West USA Realty) has spent 22+ years helping buyers and sellers in Arizona 55+ and retirement communities across the West Valley and East Valley. He lives in Arizona Traditions in Surprise, and clients rate the team 4.9 stars on Google. Call or text (480) 710-6326.
Want to see Sun City Anthem?
New build or resale — let’s find the right home, and check the bond before you offer.
See Homes for Sale Contact Page 
Jarl Kubat · Licensed Arizona 55+ Communities Specialist · West USA Realty
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.
Market figures: Market snapshot and price figures are drawn from the Arizona Regional MLS for Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch (single-family homes) over a trailing 90-day period as of the date shown. Prices shift as homes are reduced and as the market changes; confirm current figures with your agent before relying on them.
Fees & community information: Fees are current for 2026 as provided and are subject to change by the Sun City Anthem and Merrill Ranch associations. The Town of Florence assessment bond varies by home and must be verified individually; responsibility for any remaining balance is negotiated in the purchase contract. Amenities, golf rates, hours, age rules, and CC&Rs are summarized here for general information and can change. New-home pricing, availability, incentives, and builder age policies are set by the builder and change without notice. Verify all figures and rules with the associations, the builder, or your licensed agent before you buy. This page is independent buyer-focused information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Del Webb, Pulte, Troon, or the Merrill Ranch associations. Jarl Kubat is a licensed Arizona real estate agent with West USA Realty.