This guide to the Valley’s best neighborhoods for a variety of personalities can help you navigate today’s crucible of a real estate market and find your ideal home.
Gilbert’s Lake ’Hoods
For permanent vacationers and faux retirees.
For the past year and a half, while many of us were anchored to our sofas, some Gilbert denizens were cruising pontoons around palm-fringed waters and making fists with their toes on a sandy beach – without ever packing their bags. Hundreds of homes have a lake in their backyard at Gilbert’s Val Vista Lakes and The Islands, where residences range from condos to single-family starters to gated custom builds.
When your community clubhouse is a popular wedding destination with a tropical lagoon, you know you’ve reached peak staycation living. C’est la vie at Val Vista Lakes, where the HOA provides pedalboats and kayaks for residents, along with dive-in movies, swim lessons, ballroom dancing and a holiday boat parade. “It has the feeling of a country club while maintaining the family atmosphere you’ve come to expect in your typical Gilbert neighborhood,” says realtor Ryan Meeks with My Home Group. What’s more, this oasis near US 60 at Val Vista is within bicycling distance of birdwatching at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, shopping at Dana Park and skateboarding at Freestone Park.
Similarly, The Islands – about five minutes southwest of downtown Gilbert – harbors 400 waterfront homes on streets with nautical names like Lobster Trap. Islands inhabitants can enjoy boating and fishing on the lakes, then sip a cold one at nearby Desert Monks Brewing Co. or San Tan Brewery & Distillery Tours.
’Hood Price Range
From $375K for an off-lake three-bedroom to $800K for a lakefront three-bedroom to seven figures for a waterfront mansion.
