Anthem at Merrill Ranch Retirement Community
Located in scenic Florence, AZ, Anthem has been growing steadily ever since it was built in 1999. Designed to be an affordable yet upscale environment for retirees looking for an active lifestyle, the master-planned community has over 20,000 people that enjoy the finer things about an Arizona retirement.
For anyone planning their dream retirement in the Grand Canyon state, it is important to know the benefits of the homes for sale in Anthem at Merrill Ranch.
Anthem at Merrill Ranch Retirement Community
Anthem at Merrill Ranch has the unique benefit of being a location perfectly suited for any type of personality. The focus on golf, athletics, and social clubs makes it extremely easy for residents to pick up new hobbies, find friend groups, and fill their time with like-minded people.
However, this doesn’t mean it’s all hustle and bustle; Florence provides opportunity for rest, relaxation, and appreciation for the slower pace of a small town – the population of the town is not even 30,000. It is a historic district, and is catalogued in the National Register of Historic Places, meaning that there are many interesting buildings and sites to explore solo.
Realistically though, the camaraderie and community culture are why people settle down here. Sun City is famous for being the first of the 55+ active retirement home in the state, and led the way for each of its sister communities, including Merrill Ranch, to be built.
At Anthem, you will find a golf course, along with dozens of social clubs available at their recreational facilities. You might find yourself golfing in the morning, playing bridge by noon, and taking a ballroom dancing class all in the same trip outside your home. By the end of the night, residents may also find themselves visiting one of many restaurants, breweries, or nightclubs in the city.
If it really comes down to it, Phoenix is just a bit over an hour away from Florence, meaning that retirees still have access to all that the downtown scene has to offer!
Classic Style in a Historic Setting
While the historical buildings of Florence get the fancy designation by the state, Del Webb Homes have gone out of their way to provide each resident the option for a legacy home of their own. With multiple unique floor plans, every new home tells a story, allowing home buyers to dictate what style of residence they will spend their glory years in.
The unique style of each build can have open-area kitchens, ranch-style homes, or entertainment areas based on the floor plan you choose. Recently, virtual tours of existing homes have risen in popularity to give potential buyers a look at what they could get into — or a template for a new build should that be their desire.
It might sound like this level of elegance and quality would be an expensive property to purchase, but it is actually quite the opposite! The median sold-home price at Anthem is just $285,000, which is below the state and 55+ averages in Arizona.
These prices coupled with the incredible flexible financial benefits for Arizona retirees create a dynamic in which each property becomes an outright bargain in a beautiful town.
Cost of living in Anthem at Merrill Ranch
Now that you have a better understanding of the baseline price to get into a home in Merrill, it’s time to understand the secondary financial dynamics that make Florence such an appealing retirement option.
The state property tax sits at just under 1 percent which, coupled with the great home prices, means more money in your pocket compared to other popular retirement states such as California or Florida. Vehicle registration and insurance rates also are at a low premium — Arizona is nearly 13 percent cheaper than the nationwide average for these items, and the cheapest snowbird or retirement community by a significant margin.
Additionally, the HOA fees are extremely affordable, with a quarterly fee of just $449! These fees help contribute to the maintenance of the golf course, as well as act as a reserve fund to keep the social clubs running. Many of these clubs are free of extra charge, as well, which is uncommon among 55+ communities.
Finally, the cost of goods sold is extremely low in Arizona and Florence specifically. This creates a beautiful chain as groceries are cheap, so restaurant costs are low. With that dynamic, residents have more money in their pockets for leisure and a lifestyle of charity and volunteerism. One of the greatest unifiers in the community are the many places of worship and organizations that help give back to charity.
It’s easy to see why settling down at Anthem at Merrill Ranch is such a reassuring option for those looking into retirement.
Anthem at Merrill Ranch – Homes for Sale
Anthem at Merrill Ranch is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to plan a fulfilling and relaxing retirement. As with any other significant purchase in life, you should plan carefully and chat with an expert before you sign on the dotted line. A retirement realtor can help you make the most of your money so you can just focus on living the good life.
Meet our retirement experts or browse homes for sale in Anthem at Merrill Ranch.
Table of Contents
- Intro Retirement Communities in Arizona
- Chapter 1: Retiring in Arizona Pros and Cons
- Chapter 2: Why You Need a Retirement Community Expert
- Chapter 3 Snowbird Rentals Arizona
- Chapter 4 Reverse Mortgages
- Chapter 5 New Build Retirement Homes
- Chapter 6: Mobile Home Retirement Communities in Arizona
- Chapter 7: Arizona Retirement Golf Communities
- Chapter 8: Sun City
- Chapter 9: Sun City West
- Chapter 10: Sun City Grand
- Chapter 11: Sun City Festival
- Chapter 12: Westbrook Village
- Chapter 13: Trilogy at Vistancia
- Chapter 14: Victory at Verrado
- Chapter 15: Anthem at Merrill Ranch
- Chapter 16: Leisure World Mesa AZ
- Chapter 17: Sun Lakes Retirement AZ
