Homes For Sale in Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch Live MLS listings, updated all day — new construction & resale:Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch: The Complete 55+ Buyer’s Guide
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. This page is all about the Arizona one.
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. A brand-new home is genuinely on the table.
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.
How Merrill Ranch actually works
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. 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.
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 here. The right home — new or resale, the plan you want, on the lot you want — may not be listed today.
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
Del Webb offers 22 single-family floor plans, 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.
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 | e.g. $750 on a $300,000 home |
| Disclosure fees | $365 + $385 | One to each HOA |
⚠ The Florence bond — do NOT skip this
Here’s one almost no other page will warn you about. Homes here 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. 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.
After a community is fully built out, 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 — more home, more lot, 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.
Is Sun City Anthem right 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 guard-gated lakeside 55+ community.
- The Grand — the large upscale Del Webb community in Surprise, four golf courses.
- Sun City — the original, 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 PageFrequently asked questions
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. Same Del Webb builder family, different community and different state. If you’re shopping the Phoenix area, this is the one you want.
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.
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.
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 $1,530 + $270 in working capital, a community enhancement fee of 0.25% of the sale price (about $750 on a $300,000 home), and disclosure fees of $365 and $385. Golf is separate. And ask us about the Florence bond — see below. Confirm all figures with the associations.
What is the Florence assessment bond?
Homes here 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. 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.
Can I still buy a brand-new home here?
Yes — Del Webb is still building, with about 3,800 homes 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.