Starting your Phoenix area waterfront home search
Not all Phoenix waterfront property is created the same. Some residential lakes provide ample room for pontoon boats and kayaks, while others have been characterized merely as canals. So do all lake subdivisions allow boating? Do some lakes allow fishing while others do not? And what about the water quality, do all lakes receive water from the same source? Which Phoenix cities have the most lake subdivisions and waterfront homes? If you are curious about any of these questions, read on.
Which Phoenix valley cities have the most residential lakes?
Chandler has more lake communities than any other Arizona city.
Residential Lake Water Sources
A quick tour of lakefront property and one of the first things you’ll observe is the clarity of the lake water. This will depend largely on the source of the water. Water sources for Phoenix area lake communities comes from different sources; ground or well water, SRP water, and reclaimed water. As a general rule, the newer the community the more likely the water is from a reclaimed water source. For a more detailed explanation, click on Phoenix lake community water sources.
Residential Lake Communities for Boating
A common requirement of lakefront home buyers is the ability to enjoy boating; whether it is a pontoon boat, paddle or sail boat or kayak. Some residential lakes are larger and more conducive to boating. Some don’t allow boating at all. Here are communities that allow boating:
Gilbert: The Islands in Gilbert, Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert, Stonebridge, and Wind Drift. Playa del Rey, Crystal Point Estates and Santan Lakeside Estates are water ski communities. Gilbert Waterfront Homes & Water Ski Property Summary of Gilbert Waterfront Communities
Gilbert Waterfront Homes for Sale
Chandler: Ocotillo Lakes, Oakwood Lakes, Oakwood Hills, Peninsula at Ocotillo, Harbour Club at Ocotillo, Stillwater Cove, Waters Edge at Ocotillo, Waters at Ocotillo, Ocotillo East, Pinelake Estates, Pecos Ranch, Cottonwood Springs, Ocotillo East-Santorini Shores, Balboa Point at Ocotillo, Monterey Bay and Retreat at Ocotillo Lakes.
Scottsdale: Scottsdale Ranch has the majority of lakes in Scottsdale that provide boating opportunities which include The Island at Scottsdale Ranch, Las Brisas at Scottsdale Ranch, Scottsdale Bay Club, The Waterfront at Scottsdale Ranch, and Bayview Estates at Scottsdale Ranch. Besides Scottsdale Ranch, Palo Viento in McCormick Ranch is the other Scottsdale lake community that offers homeowners boating privileges.
Mesa: Dobson Ranch
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Peoria: Boat enthusiasts can look to Desert Harbor or Ventana Lakes for boating. Ventana Lakes, an active adult age restricted community that includes Lakeside at Ventana Lakes, The Shores at Ventana Lakes, and Bay Pointe at Ventana Lakes. One of the largest bodies of water on the west side of Phoenix is Desert Harbor. This includes various subdivisions of Harbor Island, Starfire Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Harbor Shores, Spinnaker Cove, Diamond Cove, and Tuscany Shores.
Tempe: The Lakes at Tempe and Harbour Village. Luxury condos at Bridgeview and Edgewater provide a great view of Tempe Town Lake.
Glendale: Arrowhead Lakes is the best subdivision for boating in Glendale. And many buyers appreciate the hills to the north of the subdivision.
Phoenix: Lakewood in Ahwatukee consists of two bodies of water that allow boating. Subdivisions include Harbor Island, Lakewood, and Estates at Montego Bay. Lakewood Properties
Avondale: Garden Lakes is the only lake community in Avondale that allows boating consisting of two bodies of water. Crystal Gardens is the second lake community in Avondale.
Avondale Waterfront Homes for Sale
Arizona City: Paradise Lake with a 48 acre lake located in Pinal County
located south of Casa Grande. Pardise Lake Property
Maricopa Waterfront Homes for Sale
Maricopa looks to Province and Rancho El Dorado as waterfront and lake communities.
Arizona City Waterfront Homes for Sale on Paradise Lake
Sun City: Two lake commmunities in Sun City located at Thunderbird Blvd. and 99th Ave. Sun City Waterfront Homes
Waterfront Homes in Active Adult Lake Communities
Looking for a 55+ community that is also a lake community with waterfront homes? Go to my blog post that specifically talks about active adult lake communities. Active Adult Waterfront Homes
Water Ski Lakes: This is a separate and unique category. There are 6 water ski lakes in the Phoenix area, 5 of them are slalom ski lakes. Monthly HOA fees range from $215 – $600/month. Ski communities include Santan Lakeside Estates, Crystal Point Estates,Playa Del Rey Estates, Lakeside Ski Village, Buchli Lake, and Spring Mountain Ski Ranch.
Video of San Tan Lakeside Estates
Best Lakes for Boating, Kayaking and Sailing:
While some lakes do allow boating, here’s a list of the best residential lakes based on total water area: The Islands, Val Vista Lakes, Pinelake Estates, Desert Harbor in Peoria, Paradise Lake, The Lakes in Tempe, Lakewood in Ahwatukee, Dawn and Viewpoint lakes in Sun City, and Garden Lakes in Avondale. Sail boating is not very common because large and wide lakes are needed, but also because of the lack of wind.
Best Boat Friendly Communities
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Here’s a blog post that will provide you with tools to determine if the lake allows boating and the dimensions of the lake.
Fishing in Phoenix residential lakes
A waterfront home owner may not be a boating enthusiast, but rather an angler who wants to spend their time fishing. Some HOA’s are more supportive of stocking the community lake with different types of game fish. Therefore, it would be a good idea to speak with the HOA or HOA board members who have an understanding of lake fish stocking priorities. Or anglers may take advantage of the Arizona Urban Fishing Program.
How are the lakes maintained?
When it comes to maintaining the lakes in Phoenix lake communities, using chemicals is a very costly and short lived option. Instead, certain species of fish are used to create a balanced eco-system within the lake.
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