Selling a house in Sun City or Sun City West

Two communities, two sets of rules

Sun City opened in 1960; Sun City West was built starting in 1978. Each is run by its own recreation centers corporation (RCSC and RCSCW), each has its own deed restrictions, and neither is a city: permits and county code issues go through Maricopa County. Census data shows how different they are from the rest of the Valley. In Sun City, 89% of homes were built before 1980 and the median resident is about 73. In Sun City West, the median resident is about 75.

Recreation center fees at sale

Check the current fee sheet before signing; these change every year.

• Sun City (RCSC), effective December 19, 2025: Preservation and Improvement Fee $4,000, Capital Improvement Fee $1,500, transfer fee $500, recording fee $30. Annual assessment $680 per property for 2026.
• Sun City West (RCSCW), effective July 1, 2026: new-owner Asset Preservation Fee $5,750, new-owner resale transfer fee $275, seller resale disclosure fee $125. Annual dues $618 per owner member.

The fees are usually labeled for the new owner, but the purchase contract decides who actually pays. Some buyers ask the seller to cover them.

Age restrictions and the buyer pool

Both communities are age-restricted housing for older adults, and their deed restrictions limit who may live there. That narrows the buyer pool to people who qualify, plus investors who will rent to qualifying tenants within the rules. Ask the community's homeowners association or recreation centers for the current occupancy rules before you market the house.

Who can sign when a parent can't

• The parent, if they still have capacity to sign
• An agent under a durable power of attorney that covers real estate. Title will review the document.
• A successor trustee, if the house is in a living trust
• A court-appointed conservator, if the parent can't sign and there is no power of attorney or trust
• After a death: a beneficiary, successor trustee, or personal representative. See our guide on selling an inherited house.

Older houses, older systems

A Sun City home built in the late 1960s or 1970s may still have original copper or galvanized plumbing, an older electrical panel, original ductwork, and single-pane windows. Many have had a careful owner but few upgrades. Buyers' inspectors will list these items, and insurers may ask about the panel and plumbing.

The contents

Estate sale companies in the area can sell furniture and belongings, usually for a share of proceeds, and charities pick up what's left. If you sell to a cash buyer, you can take what the family wants and leave the rest.

Dealing with this now? Sell an inherited house in the Phoenix area · Sell a vacant Phoenix house

General information for Arizona homeowners, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Huge Cash Offer is a home buyer, not a law firm, lender, or housing counselor.