One of many web sites/blogs that provides information about US cities of interest to real estate professionals as well as buyers and sellers is City-Data.com. [1] The mission statement is at this link:

While some of the City-Data.com data about Henerson, NV is dated, there are some interesting comments about Sun City Anthem posted online. You might find them interesting. [2] Check out the Las Vegas city-data blog at this link:

Be sure to scroll down through all of the pages to get to the SCA stuff. Here are some examples of SCA-favorable postings on this national web site. It would be good for the community if more residents were to participate in such blogs and help promote the unique lifestyles we enjoy in SCA.

“More about Sun City Anthem

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I live in Sun City Anthem in [3] Henderson and the previous negative comments are dead wrong. The previous statements are probably from individuals with real estate conflicts of interest. Over 10,000 seniors live here, and so what if a few complain about a few things-a few complainers live where ever you are. We just ignore the handful of complaining people and enjoy the company of the thousands of others.The vast majority of residents in Sun City Anthem come from all over the world to retire here, and they truly enjoy the unique amenities we have up on the side of Black Mountain–2 thousand feet above the LV tourist din and only 20 minutes south of the LV airport. Link to the web site:
[4] Sun City Anthem - Home Page

The social life and living conditions in Sun City Anthem are truly special. We have over 45 special interest clubs with a fully equipped fitness center and resort-style spa. It is only 8 years old and operates much like a first class cruise ship on land. It does not matter whether you love your next door neighbors or not. There are hundreds of other great people between 55 and 85 within 5 minutes (walking or driving) who you can meet and enjoy time with–every day of the week.

Sun City Anthem in Henderson is nothing like the typical country club environment. You can ignore everything, or get involved. There is no pressure, and there are no significant extra costs to be active in dozens of events and programs. Operations of the amenities are included in our dues. Because of the large size and good planning of this crown jewel of the Del Webb system, dues are below average for LV, and the community is financially sound. If you golf, we have special access to two internal golf courses owned/operated by Troon, so we do not have the typical exposure to those maintenance costs. Residents often golf-cart or walk from their homes to the courses, or to the two major recreation centers (a 3rd is under construction.)

And, in case you are wondering, I am not an investor, not in real estate, and not benefiting in any way from the housing markets. I am a retired military person who has lived all over the world. I could chose to live anywhere and I am offended when seeing negative/unsubstantiated crap being said about this wonderful community where I have elected to live out my life.”————————-

“To all,

Sun City Anthem surrounds two Troon Golf operated courses. We enjoy substantial discounts for play and can reserve tee-times. [5] Las Vegas Golf Courses - Revere at Anthem - Las Vegas, Henderson Nevada Golf Course Club

There is one “village” within Sun City Anthem that is gated and is called the Pinnacles. The other 23 villages are not gated:
Arroyo Vista 275 Big Sky 386 Black Mountain 1172 Canyon Crest 544 Clubhouse 65 Desert Sky 130 Desert Valley 446 Fairway 19 Foothills 75 Golf Mesa 391 High Mesa 265 Highland 148 Hillside 26 Meadow Vista 93 Model 95 Mountain View 556 Overlook 172 Pinnacle 227 Ridgecrest 447 Shadow Canyon 510 Southridge 88 Tall Mesa 673 Valley View 102 Westridge 228
The homeowners association web site is [6] http://www.sca-hoa.org The site offers a glimpse of all amenities available. A third recreation center has been granted a building permit and construction will begin shortly.

Foreclosures are a problem in the villages that were under construction when the buying hysteria was in full swing three years ago, with most foreclosures resulting from “investor’s” properties not capable of being ‘flipped’ as they have envisioned.”

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“…I can not comment about what it is like to “live” in the other senior communities–I can only comment about what one learns from visiting the other areas and from talking to those who have relocated. We should encourage residents of those other communities to comment on what they like, and if they had it do again, where would they go? Sun City Anthem has hundreds of residents–homeowners and renters–who have moved from the other Las Vegas senior communities, and that speaks volumes to me. Finally, it makes a big difference to non-golfers if the community does NOT own the golf course. The long-term costs and potential liabilities of maintaining golf courses in the Las Vegas area are significant drains on dues. If one is a golfer, and not wealthy, the least long-term costs of golfing seems to be to live where the courses are not owned, but one can easily drive to the best value courses available. For us military retirees, we can always play at [7] Nellis AFB [about 50 minutes away, door-to-door] which most people believe will never be closed, and always be maintained at a high quality.)

My observation is that some of the other comments may have been written by real estate people or investors–not individuals who know from first hand about the differences in lifestyle and pleasures of living in the various senior communities. That is ok, but feedback from residents is also important.

IMHO, Sun City Anthem is the true crown jewel of the Del Webb senior community developments. It is only 9 years old with 7,000 homes and the last new homes are being built this year. We have an average age of 61, and our residents are truly “active”–many are not yet fully retired. This is the perfect “boomer” retirement community. We have the best balance of amenities of any place I have ever seen–it is like a cruise ship on land with 3 major recreation centers (last one being built this year).

The dues are below average for this area, and I expect them to stay low since we do not own and operate our ajacent golf courses. Some prices have decreased because of the normal market situation and due to some heavy speculative investors in the 2004-2005 period. Pulte got really greedy and allowed some individuals to buy blocks of up to a dozen homes at a time. That caused some unrealistic short-term price increases that are now being corrected. I know of no “real seniors” who are being foreclosed on. Only the speculators/property flippers are paying the piper.

However, those investor losses are providing some really good, short-term buys for REAL retirees. Many of the properties are still new–not previously occupied. Next year at this time those bargains will probably be gone. I have been here a few years, and I recently helped a fellow veteran join me and hundreds of other veterans in Sun City Anthem. They moved from Albuquerque and they are extremely happy with the value of their home and our unique community environment.

Sun City Anthem is not like other LV retirement communities. We are way up over two thousand feet on the North side of Black Mountain–way above the din of the Las Vegas tourist traffic and only 20 minutes South of the airport. Even those who do not have a private view of the entire Las Vegas Valley need only to walk a short way to have a wonderful (day and night) view of the Strip and the surrounding mountains. The air quality is truly wonderful, the noise level is near zero (particularly after 8 PM each evening), and the community/home designs allows almost every home to have great privacy.

If one likes the dry desert air, being next to the new city of Henderson, NV (now the second largest city in NV with no depressed areas) and only a few minutes from the vast entertainment options of all of Las Vegas, I believe there is no better place to retire than Sun City Anthem.

So, my message is focus on the value of the lifestyle and environment. Many retirees can live in many places, and they can buy a good home, but spending perhaps a few dollars more for Sun City Anthem, Henderson, NV will pay back many times over with the quality of life, the quality of location, and the quality of the people in the community. And for the record, I am NOT in any way associated with real estate or development or benefit in any way from my comments. I just happen to love living in this wonderful place, and I like inviting other good people to share the joy. ”

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“Wow! Those last two posts have me, if already not, sold on Sun City Anthem. It’s wonderful to hear from actual word of mouth how much someone totally enjoys their life and lifestyle there. I’m certain I would too. In fact, I have already chosen, from the many models offered, three floorplans I would really like. I or we, don’t know which it will be yet, will be arriving next weekend to thoroughly learn the area. If either one of you can direct message me, you could really be helpful with a few more questions I have. I, of course have no way of contacting you and I would leave my email address here for you but I do not think that is allowed on this city forum. I have also been wondering if there is some way I can leave a notice to current SCA residents letting them know I am a perspective buyer?
Judy”

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“Pinnacle Village is just gated, no guard. I live in SCA also. and LOVE IT TOO. Judy, if you want to post a message to any SCA resident go to [8] www.anthemtoday.com it is another forum designed for anthem residents and you can post there once you register. I hope it is allowed for me to post that link here.

I am in total agreement with everything Serviceman has said other than no trashed areas of [3] Henderson. Sorry, I have lived in this valley most of my life and I guess he has not come down of of our beautiful SCA hill enough and drifted in the “wrong” direction. but that’s O.K. Up here on our Sun City hill top, Henderson IS the most wonderul place to live. Judy Jamison922, come on down LOL”

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“Quote:

Originally Posted by lvkewlkid [10] sca-serviceman, are you sure there are no depressed areas of Henderson? Apparently you haven’t left Sun City Anthem…

Right–I am probably guilty as charged. I think I have been over most of Henderson, and have not seen any areas that I would consider truly “depressed” but I can not claim to have been everywhere.

I am so happy with living in Sun City Anthem that I probably see most things through rose-colored glasses. Whatever the case, any problem areas in Henderson are probably so contained that perhaps the topic is not worth a lot of debate? “

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“Quote:

Originally Posted by sca-serviceman [11] Right–I am probably guilty as charged. I think I have been over most of Henderson, and have not seen any areas that I would consider truly “depressed” but I can not claim to have been everywhere. I am so happy with living in Sun City Anthem that I probably see most things through rose-colored glasses. Whatever the case, any problem areas in Henderson are probably so contained that perhaps the topic is not worth a lot of debate?

I’m with you Sca……I have been all over Hooterville and with the exception of SOME of the mobile home parks/trailer camps….even the OLD areas of Henderson I would not consider depressed….houses are old….most people have lived there for just over 1 million years….some are rented out cause they “moved on up” but there’s not an area of Henderson [unless the houses were on wheels or the ground sprayed with agent orange] that I would be afraid to live in.” —————————–