What Is It Really Like to Live in Verrado, Arizona?

Maybe you've seen the pictures.

Palm trees.

Mountains.

Golf courses.

Beautiful homes.

People drinking coffee outside in January.

And if you're sitting in Western Washington during your third consecutive week of gray skies, Verrado can look pretty darn appealing.

But here's the question I think you should ask before buying a second home:

What is it actually like to live in Verrado?

Not vacation here.

Not stay for a long weekend.

Live here.

Where do you get coffee?

Where do you buy groceries?

Can you walk anywhere?

Will you meet people? (Hint - you will even just getting your mail)

What do you do on a random Tuesday?

How hot is summer, really?

And perhaps most importantly:

Will Verrado still feel special once it becomes ordinary?

My husband and I had to answer those questions ourselves when we were looking for an Arizona second home.

And ultimately, Verrado wasn't simply the place where we found a house.

It was the place where we could picture having a life.

Here's what I think Washington buyers should know.

First: Verrado Doesn't Feel Like the Arizona I Expected

This was one of the things that stood out to us.

When people picture suburban Phoenix, they often imagine huge roads, endless subdivisions and houses stretching as far as you can see.

Verrado feels different.

The community was intentionally designed around a small-town concept.

You'll find tree-lined streets.

Front porches.

Sidewalks.

Neighborhood parks.

Trails.

A Main Street with grocery stores, fine dining, pharmacy. Truly small town.

And architecture that gives different areas personality instead of making every street feel exactly the same.

That's difficult to understand from listing photos.

You have to drive through it.

Better yet, walk through it.

There's a difference between looking at a beautiful house and thinking:

"I like this house."

and walking around a community and thinking:

"I could live here."

That's what we're looking for.

Yes, Verrado Has an Actual Main Street

This is one of my favorite things about the community.

Verrado has a walkable Main Street district with places to eat, grab coffee, take care of everyday errands and simply spend time.

And I think that matters more than people realize.

A lot of master-planned communities give you beautiful houses and amenities.

But there's no real center.

Main Street gives Verrado one.

It's somewhere you can meet someone.

Grab a bite.

Walk around.

Attend community activities.

Or simply have somewhere to go without making everything an excursion.

For a second-home owner, that can help Verrado start feeling like your town instead of the subdivision where your Arizona house happens to be.

Verrado Is Much More Walkable Than Many Buyers Expect

Let's clarify something.

You're still in the Phoenix metro area.

This isn't Manhattan.

You're going to own a car.

But within Verrado, walking is intentionally part of the community.

There are sidewalks, neighborhood paths, parks and trails throughout the area.

Verrado currently reports more than 26 miles of paths and trails and more than 86 neighborhood parks throughout the community.

That's a lot of opportunity to get outside.

And for someone coming from Washington, I think that's one of the biggest lifestyle shifts.

During an Arizona winter, you may find yourself outside constantly.

Morning walk.

Golf.

Lunch outside.

Another walk after dinner.

It's amazing how much sunshine changes your willingness to leave the house. This one fact is so true.

Living in Verrado in a word, is easy.

If You Love Golf, Verrado Is Pretty Hard to Ignore

Golf is a big part of life here.

Verrado is home to two Tom Lehman-designed championship golf courses: the Founders Course and the Victory Course.

And importantly, both are public.

You don't have to live in Victory to play the Victory Course.

You don't need to belong to a private country club just to get on the golf course.

For golfers considering a second home, that's a significant lifestyle benefit.

But here's my advice:

Don't buy a golf-course home simply because you golf.

Come play.

Experience both courses.

Think about how often you'll realistically play.

And then decide how important proximity to golf really is in your home search.

Maybe you need the view.

Maybe you need to be five minutes from the first tee.

Or maybe you simply want great golf nearby.

Those are three different housing decisions.

The Mountains Change the Feel of the Community

Verrado sits near the White Tank Mountains, and I think that's another part of what gives the area its identity.

I designed our pool with a baja shelf where I can lay with a book in hand and look right at the mountain top and my favorite Lone Saguaro.

You see the mountains.

You see the desert.

You get beautiful sunsets.

And you have access to outdoor recreation beyond simply walking around your neighborhood.

For someone coming from Washington, where mountains are such a familiar part of the landscape, I think this matters.

The scenery is completely different.

But you don't feel like you've moved into an endless flat subdivision.

Not at all. In some parts of Verrado you can see the city of Phoenix from your backyard.

Community Is Probably Verrado's Biggest Selling Point

This is the word I keep coming back to.

Community.

Verrado has clubs, activities, events and gathering places designed to bring residents together.

But community isn't something a developer can simply install like a swimming pool.

You still have to participate.

You have to say hello.

Show up.

Join something.

Walk the neighborhood.

Talk to people.

That's particularly important if you're buying a second home.

One of the biggest fears seasonal buyers have is:

"Will we actually make friends?"

You don't want to spend six months in Washington, arrive at your Arizona house and feel like a stranger every time you come back.

That's why I think the community component matters so much.

The house gets you here.

The relationships are what make you want to come back.

What About Victory at Verrado?

If you're 55+, you have another option to consider.

Victory is the active-adult portion of Verrado.

It offers its own amenities and social environment within the larger community.

Some buyers immediately fall in love with it.

Others discover they prefer traditional Verrado and its mix of ages and households.

Being over 55 doesn't automatically mean you belong in Victory.

That's why I always encourage eligible buyers to experience both before deciding.

Don't choose based on your birth year.

Choose based on the life you want.

What Do You Do for Groceries and Everyday Shopping?

This question used to be more important than it is today because the commercial landscape around Verrado continues to grow.

There are grocery and everyday shopping options in and around the community, including Fry's Marketplace and Basha’s.

And Verrado Marketplace has added another major shopping, dining and entertainment destination to the area.

The 500,000-square-foot development includes a mix of retailers, restaurants, services and entertainment.

For residents, that's significant. For me, I left for a Washington summer before anything was open and next month I can’t wait to get back and explore all the new things!

It means more of everyday life can happen close to home.

And if you haven't visited Verrado in several years, you may be surprised by how much the area has changed.

Verrado Is Growing—and That's Both a Pro and a Con

Let's talk about this because I don't want to paint a picture of a tiny Arizona village frozen in time.

Verrado and the surrounding Buckeye area are growing.

There is new housing.

New commercial development.

New construction.

More services.

More people.

That brings convenience.

Restaurants.

Shopping.

Healthcare.

More amenities.

But growth also means construction.

Traffic patterns can change.

Views can change.

The empty parcel behind a house may not remain empty forever.

This is particularly important when you're buying new construction.

I want to know:

What's planned around us?

Because buying in a growing community means we're not only evaluating what exists today.

We're also thinking about what may exist tomorrow.

Let's Talk About the Heat

We have to.

If you're considering moving from Washington to Arizona, somebody needs to tell you:

Arizona is hot in the summer.

Not:

"Oh, but it's a dry heat."

Hot.

Really hot.

You will develop opinions about covered parking that you never knew you were capable of having.

You'll learn not to casually touch certain outdoor surfaces.

You’ll need to cover your golf cart seats and metal handlebars with a blanket while you’re having lunch at Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers (this is a true story).

And you'll understand why air conditioning is not considered an optional appliance.

But here's the important part for many Washington second-home buyers:

You may not be buying Arizona for the summer.

You may be buying it for winter.

That's exactly how many seasonal homeowners think about the two-state lifestyle.

When Arizona is glorious, you're there.

When Washington is glorious, you go home.

Suddenly you're trying to collect the best months from two different states.

I'm not saying that's a bad plan.

And Washington Summer Is Hard to Beat

This is why I don't necessarily think of Washington and Arizona as competitors.

I love Western Washington.

Summer in Skagit Valley?

Gorgeous.

Long evenings.

Green everywhere.

Perfect temperatures.

Why would you want to leave?

But January?

That's a different conversation.

The beauty of a second home is that you don't necessarily have to choose.

You're creating options.

Maybe you spend winter and early spring in Arizona.

Summer in Washington.

Maybe you go back and forth.

Maybe the balance changes as you approach retirement.

The point isn't to escape one life.

It's to create more ways to live it.

What Does a Normal Winter Day in Verrado Look Like?

This is where I think people start understanding the appeal.

Imagine waking up.

Coffee outside.

Maybe a morning walk.

Golf later.

Lunch on a patio.

Run a few errands.

Home for a while.

Meet friends for dinner.

Walk after sunset.

Nothing extraordinary happened.

And that's exactly the point.

You're not on vacation.

You aren't trying to cram twelve activities into every day.

You're simply living your regular life somewhere that makes it easier to be outside in January.

That's the part I think is difficult to understand until you've experienced it.

Your Visitors Will Suddenly Become Very Interested in Your Schedule

This is another amusing side effect of owning an Arizona home.

Friends and adult children who were perfectly capable of going months without visiting suddenly become extremely curious about your February and March availability.

Funny how that works.

And honestly?

That's part of the fun.

Your second home can become a gathering place.

Golf weekends.

Family visits.

Friends escaping the rain.

Holidays.

That may influence the house you choose too.

Do you need a guest room?

A casita?

A pool?

Great outdoor entertaining space?

Your Arizona home may not simply be about where you spend the winter.

It can become part of how you spend time with the people you love.

Is Verrado Quiet?

Parts of it certainly can be.

But I wouldn't describe Verrado as a sleepy retirement community.

There are families.

Schools.

Parks.

Golfers.

Events. Lots of events!

Restaurants.

Kids riding bikes.

People walking dogs.

Construction in growing areas.

And if you live in Victory, you'll have another layer of active-adult activities and social opportunities.

That's one reason I think visiting matters so much.

Different areas have different energy.

We need to find the one that feels right to you.

What Surprises Washington Buyers?

I think one surprise is how green parts of Verrado can feel.

When you hear "Buckeye, Arizona," you may picture nothing but agriculture and brown desert.

There is absolutely desert landscape here.

But Verrado's tree-lined streets, parks and landscaping create a different feeling in many neighborhoods.

Another surprise?

How quickly you adjust to outdoor living.

You start noticing patios.

Shade.

Backyard orientation.

Where the afternoon sun hits.

Whether there's room for outdoor dining.

Those things may have been secondary in your Washington home search.

In Arizona, they can move way up the list.

What Might You NOT Love About Verrado?

This matters.

I don't think I'm doing you any favors if I tell you Verrado is perfect for everyone.

It isn't.

You may not love Verrado if you want to be in the center of Scottsdale nightlife.

If you want a dense urban environment where you can walk everywhere, this probably isn't it.

If you don't like living in a master-planned community with HOA rules and architectural standards, that's something we need to discuss.

If ongoing development and construction bother you, certain growing areas may not be right for you.

And if you're planning to live here year-round but absolutely hate extreme heat, you need to experience summer before making a permanent move.

I don't need you to fall in love with Verrado.

I need you to figure out whether Verrado fits you.

That's a very different goal.

Who Do I Think Verrado Is Especially Good For?

I think Verrado deserves a serious look if you're someone who values:

Community

You want neighbors, activities and places where people naturally gather.

Outdoor living

You want walking, golf, trails, patios and sunshine to become part of everyday life.

A neighborhood feel

You like parks, sidewalks, tree-lined streets and a sense of place.

A two-state lifestyle

You love Washington but would really prefer to experience February from somewhere sunnier.

Options

You want to compare all-ages Verrado with a 55+ active-adult community, new construction with resale, private pools with community amenities, and different styles of neighborhoods.

Most importantly, I think Verrado works for people who aren't simply shopping for an Arizona house.

They're shopping for an Arizona life.

Come Experience Verrado Like You Live Here

If you're seriously considering buying, here's my challenge:

Don't come down and spend three days doing nothing but touring houses.

We'll absolutely tour houses.

But I also want you to:

Walk Main Street.

Get coffee.

Play golf if that's your thing.

Explore the trails.

Have lunch.

Drive through different neighborhoods.

Visit Victory if you're eligible.

See new construction.

See established neighborhoods.

Come back to the community after dark.

Do something boring.

Seriously.

Because if you're buying a second home, I want you to know whether you enjoy Verrado when you're not being entertained.

That's what living here actually is.

The House Is Only Half the Decision

This is probably the thread that runs through every article I've written in this Verrado series.

Yes, we need to find a great house.

We need to negotiate well.

We need to understand the costs.

We need to think about maintenance.

We need to decide whether you want new construction or resale.

Pool or no pool.

Verrado or Victory.

All of those things matter.

But underneath every one of those decisions is the same question:

What kind of life are you trying to create?

That's where I start.

Because I don't want to help you buy a beautiful house that sits empty because you don't love being here.

I want to help you find the place where, a year after closing, you walk outside with your coffee on a January morning and think:

Yep. This was exactly what we were looking for.

Thinking About Living in Verrado?

I've created an entire series for Washington buyers considering a second home in Verrado.

Start with my Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home in Verrado From Washington.

Then explore:

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Home in Verrado?

Verrado vs. Victory at Verrado: Which Community Is Right for You?

New Construction vs. Resale Homes in Verrado

What Does It Really Cost to Own a Second Home in Verrado?

Do You Need a Pool in Verrado?

What Happens to Your Verrado Home When You Leave for the Summer?

Should You Buy an Arizona Second Home Before You Retire?

and

How to Plan a Verrado House-Hunting Trip From Washington.

I'm Tammy Cannon, a real estate agent licensed in both Washington and Arizona, and I specialize in helping Washington buyers explore second-home opportunities in Verrado.

My husband and I made this decision ourselves.

We didn't stop loving Washington.

We simply decided we wanted another option.

If you've started wondering whether Verrado could be that option for you, let's talk.

You don't need to know what neighborhood you want.

You don't need to know whether you want a pool.

You don't even need to know when you're going to buy.

We can start with the most important question: What do you want your life in Arizona to look like? I share our lifestyle in both states on Instagram and would love to connect with you over there. Come say hi @thetammycannon