El Mirage, AZ homes along the Agua Fria River

El Mirage is small on the map but sits in the middle of everything in the northwest Valley. Surprise wraps around it to the west and north, Sun City and Youngtown lie across the Agua Fria River to the east, and Luke Air Force Base is to the south. The city is roughly 16 to 20 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix, depending on the route.

The community started in the 1930s, when farm workers settled on the west bank of the river. It was founded in 1937 and incorporated as a town in 1951, then voted to become a city in 1983. The historic Agua Fria River Bridge, built in 1895, is one of the oldest structures in the area. In 2017 the city opened a new city hall, along with new police and fire stations.

The original townsite near Grand Avenue has older and smaller homes on varied lot sizes, including some manufactured homes. Most of the rest of El Mirage was built in a short burst during the 2000s, when the city grew rapidly and large tracts of farmland were turned into subdivisions. That gives the city a fairly consistent look: stucco detached homes with tile roofs, two-car garages, block-wall backyards and desert landscaping, in one- and two-story plans.

Subdivision names buyers will see include Rancho Mirage, built around 2000 to 2002, along with Sundial and Arizona Brisas. Because many homes were built by the same handful of builders in the same years, floor plans repeat often, which makes comparing homes easier than in an older city.

Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort is a 55+ community in El Mirage with manufactured homes, park models and RV sites, along with its own golf course and resort amenities. If you are buying a manufactured home in a community like this, understand whether you will own or lease the land under the home, what the monthly lot or space fees cover, and how the community approves new owners.

• Gateway Park and Bill Gentry Park are the two main city parks, and a YMCA-run recreation center with a swimming pool sits next to Bill Gentry Park.
• Around the city you will also find a splash pad, a skate facility, ball fields, a dog park, a community garden, a senior center and a library.
• Founders Day in March is one of the city's annual events.
• The Sundome Center for the Performing Arts in Sun City West and Lake Pleasant Regional Park to the north are both within a short drive.

1. HOA. Most subdivisions built since 2000 have an HOA. Dues vary, so ask what is included and whether there is a separate fee at closing. Homes in the original townsite may have no HOA.
2. Solar. If the home has panels, ask for the contract. Leased systems require the buyer to qualify with the solar company.
3. Pool. Get a pool inspection along with your general home inspection.
4. Aircraft noise. El Mirage borders Luke Air Force Base. Look up the base's noise and accident potential zone maps for any address and visit at different times of day. Arizona sellers near military airports are required to disclose that proximity.
5. Manufactured homes. Confirm how the home is titled and whether the land is owned or leased, since that affects financing.
6. Utilities. Confirm the electric and water providers for the address; water may come from the city or another provider depending on location.

Teigh walks through each step with you as part of her buyer representation.

US-60 (Grand Avenue) runs along the northeast side of El Mirage, and Loop 303 is just to the west. The Northern Parkway corridor heads east-west to the south, and Loop 101 is a short drive east across the river. El Mirage Road and Thunderbird Road are among the main local routes.

Dysart Unified School District serves El Mirage and is one of the city's major employers. Dysart schools in the city include El Mirage Elementary and Dysart Middle School, and residents attend Dysart district high schools. Confirm assignments for any address directly with Dysart Unified.

With so many similar floor plans nearby, El Mirage homes are often compared side by side. The details that set one apart are condition, upgrades, a newer roof or AC, owned solar, a pool in good shape and a clean, bright presentation. Buyers also ask about the HOA and, for homes on the south side, about the base.

Teigh helps you decide which repairs and updates are worth making before you list, then gets the home ready with staging help that is included for her listing clients. See the home staging options. Her pricing comes from a comparative market analysis of homes like yours, and she never promises a sale price.

El Mirage sits right next to Surprise, where Teigh lives. She is a REALTOR® with HomeSmart Elite Group, HomeSmart, and she will meet you at your home for a consultation.

• Ready to list? Visit sell your home.
• Want a number first? Request a home valuation.
• Buying? Learn about working with Teigh as your buyer's agent.
• Search El Mirage homes with live MLS data, or view Teigh's listings.

When paperwork needs a notary, Teigh's on-the-go notary service covers El Mirage, too. Text or call 480-550-2871 any time.