Litchfield Park, AZ homes in a former Goodyear company town

In 1916, Goodyear Tire and Rubber sent executive Paul Weeks Litchfield to the Salt River Valley to find land for growing long-staple cotton for tire cords. The company's Southwest Cotton Company bought tens of thousands of acres, including the land around the present city, and the Postal Service approved the name Litchfield Park in 1926. From 1931 to 1944 the area was also a test site for Goodyear tires.

The Wigwam started as lodging for Goodyear executives and opened to the public in 1929. Today it is a resort with 54 holes of golf across three courses, pools, restaurants and the Red Door Spa, and it remains the heart of the city. Goodyear owned and ran the community for about 70 years, and Litchfield Park incorporated as a city in 1987.

Not everything from that era survived. In the 1940s Goodyear and architect Wallace Neff built four concrete Bubble Houses at the Wigwam over inflatable forms; they were demolished in the 1980s. A 1960s master plan for a much larger city of villages was also scaled back.

Litchfield Park covers only about 3.3 square miles, a compact footprint next to its larger neighbors. Wide boulevards are lined with palm and orange trees, and the city has around 12 miles of winding pathways and more than 35 acres of parks, including a six-acre fishing lake and a recreation center with a pool. A small downtown has locally owned shops and restaurants, and Litchfield Elementary School traces its roots to 1917.

Community events fill the calendar: Christmas in the Park, the Fourth of July celebration, a spring fine art and culinary festival, a Native American fine arts festival, Arts in the Park concerts and a library arts festival in November. Wildlife World Zoo is a few miles northwest, and both White Tank Mountain and Estrella Mountain regional parks are within a drive.

For a small city, Litchfield Park has a wide range of housing. You will find:

• Older homes from the city's earlier decades, often on streets shaded by mature trees.
• Golf course homes along the Wigwam courses.
• Patio homes and smaller homes with low-maintenance yards.
• Gated neighborhoods and larger custom homes.
• Condominiums and apartments for buyers who want less yard.

Neighborhood names buyers see include Litchfield Greens and the Village at Litchfield Park. Because the city mixes eras, two homes on nearby streets can differ by decades in age and in the condition of their systems.

• Water and sewer. Liberty Utilities provides water and wastewater service in the Litchfield Park area. Confirm the provider for the specific home and ask about average bills from the seller.
• HOA or not. Some neighborhoods have HOAs, golf course or gated communities may have extra fees, and some older streets have none. Get the documents and dues for the exact home.
• Age of the home. On older homes, ask about the roof, plumbing materials, electrical panel, sewer line and any irrigation setup, and consider a sewer scope.
• Mature trees. Big trees are part of the charm. Have the inspector look at roots near the foundation, the pool and the sewer line.
• Golf course lots. Check the view, the orientation and the distance from tees and cart paths.
• Solar and pools. Confirm whether solar is owned or leased, and inspect any pool separately.
• Luke Air Force Base. The base is just to the north. Look at noise maps for the address and visit at different times.

Teigh covers these steps with every client on her buyer's agent page.

Litchfield Road is the main north-south street through the city, and Indian School Road and Camelback Road run east-west. Interstate 10 lies a short drive south through Goodyear and Avondale, and Loop 303 runs a few miles to the west. Downtown Phoenix is roughly 15 to 16 miles east.

Litchfield Park is served by Litchfield Elementary School District and Agua Fria Union High School District. Some district schools are inside the city. Confirm the assigned schools for any address with the districts.

Buyers come to Litchfield Park for its trees, pathways, the Wigwam and the small-city setting, so the home should show off its lot, its outdoor spaces and any golf or park views. They will also ask about updates on older homes, HOA dues, water bills, solar and pool equipment.

Teigh helps her sellers decide what to update and what to leave, and she includes staging help as part of her listing service. Find the details on her staging page. Litchfield Park values vary a lot between older homes, golf course homes and newer gated neighborhoods, so she prepares a comparative market analysis for your property.

Teigh Wade, REALTOR®, works with HomeSmart Elite Group, HomeSmart, and has lived most of her life in the West Valley. She will meet you at your home for a mobile consultation, with no obligation.

• See her plan for selling a Litchfield Park home.
• Request a personalized value estimate.
• Read about buying with an agent who knows the West Valley.
• Search listings in Litchfield Park and nearby cities.
• Check Teigh's current and past listings.

Litchfield Park is part of the territory for Teigh's mobile notary and loan signing work. For either service, the line is 480-550-2871, call or text.