Inside Sun City Anthem: Why So Many People Retire In Henderson, NV
“Every time someone calls me about moving to Henderson for retirement, there’s one community that almost always comes up first… Sun City Anthem. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize. It’s not just a retirement neighborhood. It’s practically its own little city with clubs, golf, views of the Las Vegas Strip, and thousands of residents who moved here for a completely different lifestyle.
So today I’m breaking down why so many people choose Sun City Anthem when retiring in Henderson, and what you should know before buying here.”
QUESTION #1 – What exactly is Sun City Anthem?
Sun City Anthem is in Henderson within the master planned community of Anthem. It is an age-restricted 55+ community built by Del between 1998 and 2008. It is a large community with 7,144 homes with roughly 13,000 residents, making it one of the largest active-adult communities in Nevada.
QUESTION #2 – What kind of homes are in Sun City Anthem?
Because it is age restricted community, the homes are specifically built for retirement living with very usable single story floor plans and many homes have casitas which are always nice for guests because when you live in Las Vegas, a lot of people will come and visit you here! There are 34 different models including single-family residences and villas (semi-attached homes). The sizes start with the attached Hancock model, which is 1,080 sqft and go up to the Charleston model which is 3,175 sqft. Residents here know the model names and often refer to the homes by the specific model. Many of the models are popular. I just listed a Trenton model home which tends to be one of the more popular models. The average sale price is $640,000 with the median sale price currently at $570,000. A recent low sale price was a Hancock model at $380,000 and there was a high recent sale over $1,800,000! It was an original Del Webb Gold Key model home with views of the golf course and strip.
QUESTION #3 – What amenities make this community so popular?
One thing I’ve learned working with clients and having friends that live in the community is that people use and enjoy the amenities within Sun City Anthem. There are three resident recreation centers: Anthem Center, Independence Center, and Liberty Center. Within the Anthem Center lot is the Freedom Hall community center, where you’ll find regular entertainment and events that really bring residents together. For example, I recently interviewed Mark O’Toole, who produces shows there, and the entertainment lineup is impressive for a neighborhood venue. They host a variety of tribute concerts throughout the year such as Aretha Franklin tribute shows, Steve Miller and Doobie Brothers tributes, and even a George Michael tribute, all performed right there in Freedom Hall. The community also hosts events like the Sun City Anthem Talent Show, seasonal craft fairs, and other social events for homeowners!
My clients consistently talk about their club and hobby groups which are the heart of the community. With over 60 different Clubs there is a club for just about every interest you can imagine. The Arts and Crafts Club is especially popular, and there are also many card groups including mahjong and other card games, along with a billiards club, ballroom dancing groups, woodworking club, book clubs, and even cultural clubs for different nationalities such as Italian clubs. There are also political discussion groups and many other social organizations. These clubs make it very easy to meet neighbors who share the same interests. Many of my clients have formed their own smaller friend groups that meet regularly for mahjong games, card nights and social gatherings.
Fitness is another big part of life here. Sun City Anthem has multiple fitness centers across the three recreation centers, with full cardio and weight equipment, personal training, and group exercise classes led by instructors. One thing residents really enjoy is that the Anthem Center even has an indoor walking track that overlooks the pool and valley views. One of my clients meets her lady friends 2 to 3 times a week to walk and since it is indoors, they can do so even during the summer heat. The pools are used constantly, especially for things like water aerobics and aquacise classes, which are very popular because they’re easy on the joints, but you can still a great workout. There are both indoor and outdoor pools and spas, along with a warm-water pool at Liberty Center used for therapeutic exercise and group fitness. Outdoor sports are also a big social activity here. Residents have access to pickleball courts, tennis courts, bocce courts, and other sports courts, and pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing activities in the community. Many residents tell me it’s just as much about meeting friends and socializing as it is about the game itself. Between the pools, the fitness classes, and the sports courts, there are really a lot of ways for residents to stay active and connected with their neighbors every day.
QUESTION #4 – What does it cost to live here?
One thing I always like to explain to buyers is how the HOA works in Sun City Anthem. The association fee is currently $435 per quarter, which covers access to the three recreation centers, fitness facilities, pools, clubs, and the many activities the community offers.
There is also a one-time transfer fee charged by the HOA when a home sells, called the New Member Capital Contribution Fee. This fee is 1/3 of 1% of the purchase price and is paid at closing when a new owner moves into the community. While this fee is negotiable between the buyer and seller, if you are selling, this is something you want to make sure your real estate agent is aware of and properly addresses in the MLS listing and purchase contract.
Since the homes in Sun City Anthem are 20 years old keep in mind maintenance costs such as new roof, new HVAC or other improvements may be needed if they have not already been completed on the home.
In terms of the overall cost of living, Henderson is generally considered slightly higher than the national average with housing being one of the major factors. As residents we feel the lifestyle balances that out. Nevada has no state income tax or taxes on your estate if you pass away so many buyers are moving from states like California or Washington because of those high taxes and the overall cost of living. And Henderson itself is known for being one of the safest cities in Nevada, which is something that matters to a lot of people when they’re choosing where to live.
QUESTION #5 – Why do so many retirees specifically choose Henderson?
I live in Anthem in Anthem Country Club near Sun City Anthem. We lovingly call the area our Anthem “Bubble” because everything you need is nearby and we often don’t need to go out of the area. love is that it feels peaceful and residential, especially compared to the busier parts of Las Vegas. We shop at the nearby Vons and love Prosecco Italian Kitchen and Rebellion Pizza located in the Anthem shopping center. Off Eastern are lots of great restaurants, my team meets for breakfast once a month at Craft Kitchen and we are excited to try the new First Watch restaurant this month. My family often eats at I Love Sushi. Last night we were at the District in Green Valley ranch, I love the shops like Lululemon and Anthropologie and we had dinner at North Italia.
But the nice thing is you’re still incredibly close to everything. The Strip is only about 20 minutes away. We went to the Eagles concert at the sphere last week. It was the most amazing concert I have ever been to. We are going to Mother Wolf in the Fontainebleau tonight for dinner with friends. We love the Vegas Golden Knight hockey games. We have friends with season tickets to the Raiders with amazing seats that let us use them occasionally. Those are a lot of fun, and my husband is seriously looking into season tickets when the A’s baseball stadium opens here. There is so much to do.
It’s easy to understand why people move here and stay. Between the location, the lifestyle, and the sense of community, once people get into what we call “the bubble,” they really don’t want to leave.
