Surprise’s excellent location is just one of the many unexpected reasons people select the city to be their home. Located, it Surprise is close to the White Tank Mountains in the Northwest Valley. Grand Avenue winds along the city’s eastern edge for easy travel to all other parts of the bountiful Valley of the Sun.
The city of Peoria is to the east and the city of El Mirage to the south with much open desert resting all around. Mountain views and clean air are a way of life in Surprise.
Surprise is set gently against a pristine desert in the thriving Phoenix Valley. Prospective residents can choose from renowned retirement communities and award winning master planned family communities. The city addresses the needs of anyone who is looking for a home.
Climate
The climate is typical of the southwest. There is a mild winter that is balanced by a long hot, dry summer. Many have claimed that the dry, hot summer conditions have helped to relive many of their allergy symptoms.
Summer days are clear and spectacular and the temperatures are truly remarkable. Spring and autumn are mild transitions into the other seasons. There is a brief monsoon season that is truly extraordinary.
It is a well rounded city where residents enjoy living, working, and playing.
Surprise Properties
Surprise offers a wide range of living styles, from small family subdivisions to secluded ranches and retirement communities. Surprise neighborhoods provide generous parks and walking paths.
Surprise is currently one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona. Development growth is so explosive that it is calculated a new home is built every four hours.
This dynamic growth comes in so many types and styles that the home seeker is certain to find the home configuration that they are looking for. It is a fact that with so many subdivisions and model homes to view finding the home of your dreams is easy to do.
There are award winning master planned family communities and world class resort retirement living all available within the borders of Surprise.
Retirement living is one of the city’s many advantages and a specific area of attention that designers provided for. Sun City Grand, the third of Del Webb’s exclusive retirement communities shows the class and quality that are associated with this developer’s work.
Sun City Grand and Arizona Traditions are other Surprise retirement communities that give gated convenience along with fitness, and recreational facilities.
To find out more about properties available in the city of Surprise, click here.
The Market
The spectacular amount of market activity in Arizona over the past decade has been well documented. People of all walks of life have been moving to Arizona, and particularly Phoenix, in numbers unmatched in recent memory.
Figures from 2000-2005 show nothing but increased construction, development, unit sales and unit sales prices in virtually every category of structure offered on the market.
The greatest degree of growth occurred during fiscal 2005, where previous growth statistics, impressive in their own rights, spiked sharply to even higher levels.
Of particular note to the residential home seller/buyer was the record appreciation in new and resale home values. These rates were up for new homes and resales, rentals and condominium units, the only difference being one of degree.
While it is true that not all Phoenix area real estate markets showed the same amount of increase it is true that the degree of growth for each area was roughly proportional.
Then along came 2006 and equally well documented has been the decline in the rate of growth of some key market indicators. The greater Phoenix resale home market is showing marked decreases in sales figures for comparable periods last year across the valley and across most unit categories.
One interesting exception is median price for resale units has risen slightly. This rising price accompanied by a decrease in sales seems to be more in keeping with normal market tendencies.
One would expect spectacular growth to lead eventually to a degree of scarcity that would be reflected in higher prices. Could this indicate that the market has reached its peak?
Let’s look at another indicator to see what it may tell us.
Since 1985, the Arizona Real Estate Center has computed what it calls “affordability indexes” for the Greater Phoenix area and several nearby cities.
The index was invented as a guide to predict market activity. When the index value is 100, the typical home buyer (based on the current median resale price and household income) would be able to afford a median-priced home at the stated effective interest rate. A lower index value indicates less availability of affordable single-family homes.
The affordability index for the areas selected for study shows significant reduction in the availability of that this type of housing within the means of the ordinary consumer.
Whether this data can be used as a reliable indicator for other groups and other types of housing is arguable, but it does beg the question “how much longer will the market be able to sustain a situation where both sellers and buyers can apparently benefit by getting involved in the market?
The short answer is that these conditions can remain so long as they are supported by the market.
So when we take a long look at the larger picture we must ask ourselves whether we can realistically expect to realize more potential gain or value now or at some time in the future and it is very reasonable to conclude that the best possible time to buy or sell Arizona really is now.
Surprise History
Surprise began in the early 30’s as a small farming community. Then in 1938, the area was subdivided by Homer Ludden, a real estate developer with vision and capital. Ludden divided parcels into affordable housing portions for the area’s lower middle-class agricultural workers.
It wasn’t until 1960, before Surprise became incorporated. There are conflicting stories as to how the city received its name.
One rumor says that a lot of people said it would be a big ‘surprise’ if anything came of this place formerly inhabited by lowly share-croppers. Another story says that the city’s founder, Homer Ludden was from Surprise, Nebraska.
No matter which story you believe, it is true that this is a great place to call home. And that should come as no surprise!
Surprise! Entertainment
Wherever you turn in this 70 square mile city, there is something going on. It seems that building is going on pell-mell with new churches, restaurants, grocery stores, shops, schools cropping up everywhere. The city is an ideal place for homes and businesses- the perfect place for working, shopping and for living.
Surprise Outdoor Recreation
Just to the south of the city is Luke Air Force Base. This base is home to the 56th Fighter Wing and is the largest jet training base in the world. Every year the base holds a special event called “Luke Days.” One of the event’s highlights is the amazing air show. It is a world-class event that should not be missed.
One of the biggest bonuses when selecting the city of Surprise to be home is its 130 acre Surprise Recreational Campus. This campus includes a Cactus League Spring Training Facility/Stadium, regional library, aquatic center, a community park, and a 35 acre urban fishing lake.
Then there’s Surprise Stadium, which seats over 10,000 people. The facility includes twelve baseball fields, and a large multi-purpose complex.
This makes Surprise Stadium an excellent sports training complex; a fact not missed by the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers who call Surprise Stadium home during spring training.
Year round the stadium is in use, with youth sports programs and special events. The Golden Baseball League and the Surprise Fightin’ Falcons teams also play at the Surprise Stadium.
Sun Village in Surprise, Arizona
Get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and escape into a world that is quiet and free. Sun Village in Surprise offers residents comfort, privacy and an active lifestyle. Located in the Northwest Valley, Sun Village is close to Sun City Grand and Sun City West communities in Northwestern Phoenix. The community is gated and age restricted, and security monitors traffic into and out of the community in an effort to maintain the type of lifestyle preferred by Sun Village residents. Sun Village is over 320 lush acres with 2500 neighborly residents. There are landscaped walking and biking trails dotted by lakes and flowers throughout the community. It is conveniently located next to medical facilities and indoor shopping.
Sun Village has one of Arizona’s largest outdoor heated swimming pools and the multi-million dollar recreational facilities host a multitude of activities. There is also a fully furnished fitness center and lighted tennis courts, shuffleboard, and horseshoe pits.
There are any number of activities and events offered to residents. Organized activities include trips and outings, birthday and anniversary celebrations, pot-luck get-togethers, theme parties, clubs, worship services, as well as any number of informal gatherings arranged by community members. Larger event can be hosted in the multi-purpose Kachina Ballroom/Theater/Auditorium. This facility is ideal for dancing, plays, and larger activities while The Residents Lounge, with its big screen TV and VCR, is better for smaller events and for weekly movies. A complete library with thousands of books, magazines and newspapers is also available. There are also an assortment of arts and crafts studios suitable for ceramics, painting, sewing, needlepoint, a woodworking shop equipped with tools and machinery, and much more for those who need to give vent to their artistic abilities. The Recreation Center hosts billiards with organized tournaments and card/game playing rooms along with a full service restaurant that is open daily.
Sun Village has an 18 hole Adult Golf course that includes some surprisingly challenging features. The community has Men’s and Ladies golf leagues, annual golf memberships, and a golf pro-shop that offers the latest in sports fashions and equipment. Annual Membership with unlimited play is $530 for single membership and $960 for per couple. There are also 6 month, 3 month, and daily green fees rates.
No matter the style of home you are looking for, Sun Village has something for everyone. There are condominiums/villas/casitas in the Apache and Arapaho Villages that are low maintenance and offer either one or two bedroom floor plans. The Zuni and Pueblo Villages are detached patio homes with two or three bedroom floor plans. Zuni Village, has a centrally located community center and pool. There is a wide selection of large single family detached homes in Pima, Hopi, Shawnee, Comanche, and Kiowa Villages,. Some of these communities include a guest houses or casitas; call us for details.
If you are interested in a community with a small-town feeling, Sun Villages might just be for you. Please call and let us give you information on the “SURPRISE” secret of Sun Village.
Surprise Hospitals
Discover which hospitals are located close to Surprise, Arizona
There are three hospitals nearby. Arrowhead Community Hospital is at 18701 North 67th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308, Banner Estrella Medical Center is situated at 9201 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85037, and The Sun Health – Del Webb Memorial Hospital located at 14502 West Meeker Boulevard, Sun City West, AZ 85375. Contact each one to find out what they have to offer their patients.
Another medical facility for the military is the 56th Medical Group at 7219 North Litchfield Road, Luke Air Force Base, AZ 85309.
Surprise City Hall
Find out what you can do in your Surprise community!
The Surprise City Hall is situated at 12425 West Bell Road in Surprise. Prospective residents and residents will discover that there are many opportunities in Surprise. Learn more now.
Surprise Newspapers
Start reading your local Surprise newspaper today.
You will discover that there is a lot going on in the community. Learn about special events, local news, and much more.
Surprise Today
10102 Santa Fe Drive
Sun City, AZ 85372
Surprise Independent
1022 West Bell Road
Sun City, AZ 85351
Northwest Valley News
10102 Santa Fe Drive
Sun City, AZ 85351
Thunderbolt – Luke Air Force Base
14185 West Falcon Street
Luke Air Force Base, AZ 85309
Surprise Public Libraries
There is a book out there for you to read.
It is only a matter of finding it. Head out to one of the Surprise Public Libraries to start your search. Soon you will be curled up reading a great book. The following is a list of public libraries in Surprise.
West Valley Art Museum Library (the library is part of the Peoria Public Library System)
17420 North Avenue of the Arts
Surprise, AZ 85374
Northwest Regional – Surprise
16089 North Bullard
Surprise, AZ 85374
Hollyhock Branch
15844 North Hollyhock
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