- County
- Maricopa County (town 1929, city 2014)
- Getting around
- I-10, State Route 85, Sun Valley Parkway, MC-85; Loop 303 begins at I-10 in Goodyear
- Well-known communities
- Verrado, Sundance, Festival Ranch, Tartesso, Sun City Festival, Teravalis
- HOAs
- Master-planned communities have HOAs; rural parcels usually do not.
- Age-restricted
- Sun City Festival and Verrado's Victory District are age-restricted (55+).
Buckeye's story
Buckeye began in 1888 as a farming settlement first called Sidney. Malie M. Jackson had built about ten miles of the Buckeye Canal in the mid-1880s, and the town was renamed Buckeye in 1910 after the canal and Jackson's home state of Ohio. It incorporated as a town in 1929 and became a city on January 1, 2014.
The historic downtown along Monroe Avenue still anchors the old part of town, and the historic Buckeye Union High School "A" Wing is a local landmark. Around it, Buckeye's city limits now cover a very large area that runs from the Gila River valley north across Interstate 10 toward the White Tank Mountains and beyond, with farmland, desert and master-planned communities side by side.
Master-planned communities
Verrado
Verrado, developed by DMB Associates, sits at the base of the White Tank Mountains about 25 miles west of downtown Phoenix. Its Main Street district was designed in an old-town America style with shops, restaurants and services, and many surrounding streets use designs based on early 20th-century neighborhoods, including some homes with rear-alley garages. Verrado Golf Club is part of the community. The Victory District in Verrado's northern foothills is age-restricted to residents 55 and older.
Sun City Festival
Sun City Festival is an age-restricted master-planned community by PulteGroup's Del Webb brand in northern Buckeye, about ten miles west of Surprise.
Sundance, Festival Ranch and Tartesso
Sundance, south of I-10 near Sundance Towne Center, Festival Ranch in north Buckeye, and Tartesso are established all-ages master-planned communities, mostly built from the 2000s onward.
Teravalis
Teravalis is a very large planned community in northern Buckeye that is still in the early stages of development.
Housing types
Most Buckeye homes are detached houses built since the early 2000s, in stucco with tile roofs, two-car to three-car garages and desert landscaping. Verrado adds townhouses and apartment-style homes near Main Street. The 55+ communities lean toward single-level plans. In the older parts of town you will find older homes on larger lots, and in the outlying areas there is farm and ranch property, manufactured homes on acreage and vacant land.
New construction is a big part of the Buckeye market, so many buyers compare a resale home with a builder's inventory home before deciding.
Getting in and out of Buckeye
Interstate 10 is the main corridor, running east to Goodyear and Phoenix and west to California. State Route 85 runs south from I-10 toward Gila Bend. Sun Valley Parkway loops through the northern part of the city and connects to Bell Road in Surprise, and MC-85 serves the southern side. Loop 303 begins at I-10 in neighboring Goodyear. Buckeye Municipal Airport serves general aviation.
Due diligence in Buckeye
- Water provider. The City of Buckeye's Water Resources Department serves most residents, while EPCOR and Arizona Water Company serve parts of the city. Confirm the provider and the sewer setup for the address.
- Rural property. On acreage, ask about private wells, shared wells, septic systems and any irrigation rights, and plan for the septic inspection Arizona requires at transfer. Confirm zoning before you plan for horses or other animals.
- HOAs. Master plans usually have HOA dues, and some have an extra master association or club fee. Ask for every document and any fees charged at closing.
- Age rules. Sun City Festival and Verrado's Victory District are age-restricted. Confirm eligibility in advance.
- Solar and pools. Ask whether solar is owned or leased, and get a pool inspected separately.
- Commute and services. Distances in Buckeye are long. Map the drive to work, groceries and medical care from any home you are considering.
Electricity in Buckeye is generally provided by APS, but confirm it for rural parcels. Teigh's home buying service covers all of this with you.
Parks and open space
Skyline Regional Park is an 8,700-acre mountain preserve on the city's north side with desert trails to explore. Buckeye Hills Regional Park lies to the south. White Tank Mountain Regional Park borders the city to the northeast, and the lakes, pools and trails inside the master plans add plenty of local options.
A long list of school districts
Buckeye is served by many districts, including Buckeye Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Litchfield Elementary, Palo Verde Elementary, Morristown Elementary, Saddle Mountain Unified, Wickenburg Unified, Agua Fria Union High and Buckeye Union High school districts. Verrado, for example, falls in the Litchfield Elementary, Agua Fria Union High and Saddle Mountain Unified districts. District lines in a city this size are complicated, so ask the district which schools serve a particular home.
Selling a Buckeye home
In a market with a lot of new construction, a resale home wins on finished details: landscaping that is already in, window coverings, upgraded flooring, a patio cover, a pool and a move-in ready feel. Buyers will also ask about HOA dues, the water provider, solar ownership and the age of major systems.
Teigh helps her listing clients highlight those advantages and prepare the home with staging help that is part of her service. The home staging page describes each level. Prices vary widely across Buckeye's communities and rural areas, so she prepares a CMA for your home instead of quoting averages.
Teigh and Buckeye
Teigh Wade, REALTOR® with HomeSmart Elite Group, HomeSmart, works throughout the West Valley from her home base in Surprise, and Buckeye is a regular stop. She offers mobile consultations at your home or the property you want to see.
- Sell a Buckeye home with Teigh
- Get your Buckeye home's value
- Buy in Buckeye with Teigh's help
- See Buckeye homes for sale
- Explore Teigh's listings
Buckeye is also within reach of Teigh's mobile notary service, which travels to clients across the state. Calls and texts go to 480-550-2871.
Frequently asked questions
Is Buckeye a city or a town?
Buckeye is a city. It was founded in 1888 as Sidney, renamed Buckeye in 1910, incorporated as a town in 1929 and became a city on January 1, 2014. It is in western Maricopa County along Interstate 10 and State Route 85.
Is Verrado age-restricted?
Most of Verrado is not. Verrado is an all-ages master-planned community in Buckeye developed by DMB Associates. Its Victory District, in the northern foothills of the White Tank Mountains, is age-restricted to residents 55 and older. Confirm which district a home is in before you make an offer.
Is Sun City Festival a 55+ community?
Sun City Festival is an age-restricted master-planned community built by PulteGroup's Del Webb brand in northern Buckeye, about ten miles west of Surprise. Review the community's current age and occupancy rules and HOA documents before buying, and ask what amenity fees apply.
Who provides water in Buckeye?
The City of Buckeye's Water Resources Department serves most residents. EPCOR and Arizona Water Company serve other parts of the city, and some rural properties use private or shared wells. Confirm the water and sewer arrangement for each property, since it affects costs and due diligence.
Which highways serve Buckeye?
Interstate 10 is the main highway through Buckeye. State Route 85 heads south toward Gila Bend, Sun Valley Parkway runs through the north side toward Surprise, and MC-85 serves the south. Loop 303 starts at I-10 in neighboring Goodyear, giving Buckeye drivers a route north toward Surprise and I-17.
What master-planned communities are in Buckeye?
Occupied master plans include Verrado, Sundance, Festival Ranch, Tartesso and Sun City Festival. Teravalis is a large planned community in northern Buckeye that is in early development. Each has its own HOA structure, amenities and builder history, so compare them carefully.
Can I buy land or rural property in Buckeye?
Yes. Outside the master plans, Buckeye has farmland, desert parcels and homes on acreage. Before buying, check zoning, road access, wells, septic systems, irrigation rights and utility availability, and confirm whether the parcel is inside city limits or in unincorporated county land.
Which school districts serve Buckeye?
Several, including Buckeye Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Litchfield Elementary, Saddle Mountain Unified, Agua Fria Union High and Buckeye Union High districts, plus others in outlying areas. The district depends on the address, so confirm the assigned schools directly with the district.