Shea Homes' most acclaimed 55+ golf community in the Phoenix metro — a Tom Lehman–designed private course, 44,000 sq ft La Casa del Club, resort pools, full spa, and golf membership included in HOA. New homes $500K–$950K+.
Trilogy at Encanterra in Queen Creek occupies a unique position in the Phoenix metro's 55+ real estate landscape: it is the only major age-restricted community where a Tom Lehman–designed private golf course, a 44,000 square foot amenity center, resort-style pools, a full-service spa, and a complete social programming calendar are bundled into a single HOA payment. No initiation fee. No separate golf dues. No application process for club access. Buy a home at Encanterra and you join the Encanterra Country Club on day one.
This distinction matters enormously in the 55+ buyer calculation. Competing communities with private golf — Blackstone at Vistancia (Peoria), DC Ranch Country Club (Scottsdale), Troon North (Scottsdale) — require initiation fees ranging from $8,000 to $50,000+ plus ongoing monthly dues for club access. At Encanterra, those fees are folded into the HOA structure, making the true cost of golf membership transparent and predictable rather than a separate negotiation and ongoing financial commitment.
Trilogy at Encanterra was developed by Shea Homes — the largest private homebuilder in the United States, a family-owned company that has operated since 1881. Shea's private ownership structure means they are not subject to quarterly earnings pressure from Wall Street, which Shea management consistently credits with their ability to make long-term quality decisions that publicly traded builders sometimes sacrifice for margin. Shea's LifeDesign® approach to 55+ community development is the framework behind Encanterra's design: every feature, from street widths to amenity spacing to floor plan proportions, reflects how active adults actually live rather than how developments traditionally get drawn on paper.
Encanterra's amenity center — La Casa del Club — is a 44,000 square foot Spanish Colonial architecture masterpiece that serves as the physical and social hub of the community. It is not merely a clubhouse; it is a full-service resort facility modeled on the finest private clubs in Arizona. The facility contains:
Outside the main clubhouse building, Encanterra's grounds include 8 pickleball courts with lighting for evening play, tennis courts, bocce ball, horseshoes, multiple event lawns for outdoor concerts and festivals, a dog park, and over 4 miles of internal walking and cycling trails winding through the manicured landscaping between neighborhoods.
The Encanterra Country Club golf course was designed by Tom Lehman — the 1996 British Open Champion and one of the most respected golf course designers of the past three decades. Lehman's design philosophy emphasizes playability across skill levels while maintaining challenge for accomplished golfers. The course at Encanterra threads through the community's neighborhoods, providing golfers with a routing that feels integrated into the community rather than isolated from it.
Key features of the Encanterra golf experience:
Comparable private golf club memberships in the Phoenix metro — Troon Country Club, DC Ranch Country Club, Mirabel Club — run $20,000–$75,000 in initiation fees plus $700–$2,500/month in dues. The all-in HOA at Encanterra ($350–$520/month) represents compelling value for golfers who play regularly, as the effective cost of the golf membership alone is well below what any comparable private club charges separately.
Shea Homes' research into what active adult buyers prioritize after golf (the top-cited must-have) reveals a consistent second tier: social connection, fitness, creative outlets, travel, and lifelong learning. Encanterra's programming addresses all five:
The lifestyle staff at Encanterra is a professional team — not a volunteer committee — with a budget and mandate to deliver a consistently full programming calendar. This staffing investment is reflected in the HOA fee and represents one of the clearest value differentiators between Encanterra and lower-cost 55+ communities where programming is entirely volunteer-driven.
Comparable private golf clubs in Phoenix metro (Troon, DC Ranch, Mirabel): $20K–$75K initiation + $700–$2,500/month dues.
At Encanterra: $0 initiation, $0 separate dues — golf membership bundled into $350–$520/month HOA. For a golfer who plays 2+ times per week, the math favors Encanterra by $500–$1,800/month versus joining a comparable private club separately while living in a non-golf community.
Shea Homes builds multiple collections at Encanterra — from elegant 2-bedroom villas to expansive estate homes with casitas
| Shea Collection | Sq Ft Range | Bed/Bath | Garage | Base Price (2026) | Lot Premium | Options Avg | Final Price Est. | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passage Collection | 1,600–2,000 | 2–3 BR / 2 BA | 2-car | $500K–$595K | $8K–$35K | $20K–$50K | $528K–$680K | Single-story; lock-and-leave friendly; courtyard options |
| Journey Collection | 2,000–2,600 | 2–3 BR + Den / 2–2.5 BA | 2–3 car | $595K–$740K | $15K–$55K | $35K–$80K | $645K–$875K | Single-story; most popular range; optional casita on select plans |
| Discovery Collection | 2,400–3,000 | 3 BR / 2.5–3 BA | 2–3 car | $700K–$860K | $20K–$70K | $45K–$100K | $765K–$1,030K | Single-story; premium finishes standard; extended outdoor living |
| Pinnacle Collection | 2,800–3,600+ | 3–4 BR / 3–4 BA | 3-car | $840K–$980K+ | $25K–$90K | $60K–$150K | $925K–$1,220K+ | Golf-view lots; casita standard; most customization available |
| Cost Component | $550K Purchase | $720K Purchase | $900K Purchase | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal & Interest (20% down, 7.0%) | $2,927 | $3,832 | $4,790 | 30-yr fixed; 20% down payment; shop multiple lenders for best rate |
| Property Tax (Maricopa Co.) | $115–$148 | $150–$194 | $188–$243 | ~0.5–0.6% effective on LPV; new construction taxed at sale price year 1; appeal typically lowers in year 2 |
| Homeowners Insurance | $120–$160 | $160–$210 | $200–$265 | Standard fire/wind; add golf cart coverage if applicable; shop annually |
| HOA (includes golf membership) | $350–$520 | $350–$520 | $350–$520 | Covers all amenities AND private golf course access; no separate initiation or dues |
| CFD/SID Assessment (if applicable) | $65–$125 | $65–$125 | $65–$125 | ARS Title 48; ~$800–$1,500/year; verify by specific lot before signing |
| TOTAL ALL-IN ESTIMATE | $3,577–$3,880 | $4,557–$4,881 | $5,593–$5,943 | Estimates only; confirm all components with lender and HOA at contract |
| Value comparison: equivalent private golf club + non-golf community would cost | +$700–$2,200/mo more | +$700–$2,200/mo more | +$700–$2,200/mo more | Separate private club membership at Troon/DC Ranch/Mirabel range: $1,200–$3,000/month |
| Community | Location | Builder | Price Range | HOA/Mo | Golf | Golf Initiation Fee | Golf Incl. in HOA | Clubhouse | Lazy River | Intel Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trilogy at Encanterra | Queen Creek | Shea 55+ | $500K–$950K+ | $350–$520 | Private (Tom Lehman) | $0 | YES | 44,000 sqft | No | 22–30 min |
| Blackstone at Vistancia | NW Peoria | Toll Bros/Taylor | $700K–$2.5M+ | $120–$200 + golf | Private (Greg Nash) | $8K–$18K | NO (sep.) | 20,000 sqft | No | 55–70 min |
| Trilogy at Power Ranch | Gilbert | Shea 55+ | $480K–$760K | $195–$240 | No golf course | N/A | N/A | 20,000 sqft | No | 25–35 min |
| Sun Lakes (Robson) | SE Chandler | Robson | $300K–$620K | $130–$190 | Semi-private (3 courses) | $2K–$5K | NO (sep.) | Multiple clubs | No | 30–40 min |
| PebbleCreek | Goodyear | Robson | $350K–$720K | $150–$225 | Private (2 courses) | $5K–$10K | NO (sep.) | Multiple clubs | No | 60–75 min |
| Cibola Vista Resort | NW Peoria | Del Webb | $450K–$900K+ | $195–$250 | No private golf | N/A | N/A | 35,000 sqft | YES | 55–70 min |
Queen Creek, Arizona is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the United States. Its population has grown from approximately 26,000 in 2010 to an estimated 80,000+ in 2026, driven by its combination of high-quality master-planned communities, excellent schools, a family-oriented culture, and proximity to the southeast valley employment corridor anchored by Intel's Chandler campus and the broader tech cluster along the US-60.
Queen Creek is unique among Phoenix-area cities in maintaining its agricultural and equestrian character alongside rapid residential development. Horse-friendly large-lot zones and equestrian trails coexist within city limits alongside communities like Encanterra, Harvest, and Circle G Ranch. The annual Queen Creek Olive Mill, the Western Skies regional park system, and the Schnepf Farms harvest festival attract visitors from across the metro and reinforce the city's distinctive identity.
Shea Homes is the largest private homebuilder in the United States, founded in 1881. As a private company (not traded on NYSE or NASDAQ), Shea answers to family ownership rather than quarterly earnings calls. This structure allows Shea to: invest in longer design development cycles, maintain quality standards that might be cut by publicly traded builders under margin pressure, and make 10–20 year community planning decisions without the pressure of quarterly earnings guidance. Consistently rated among the top 5 builders nationally for customer satisfaction.
Shea Homes requires buyer's agent registration before your first visit to the Encanterra sales center. If you enter without your agent registered, you risk losing your representation. Call Ryan Moxley at (480) 227-9143 before visiting — registration takes 5 minutes and Shea pays the agent commission at closing, costing you nothing.
Ask the Shea sales associate specifically: "What is the Community Facilities District or Special Improvement District assessment for this lot?" Get the dollar amount in writing. At Queen Creek area new construction, CFDs typically run $800–$1,500/year and appear on your property tax bill separate from the HOA. Missing this adds $65–$125/month to your true monthly cost.
Arizona has no state license requirement for home inspectors — use ASHI or InterNACHI credentialed professionals. Common findings on new Shea homes: stucco water intrusion at penetrations, HVAC efficiency issues, drainage grading, and window installation. An inspection costs $400–$650 and frequently uncovers items the builder's warranty will cover if identified before close.
Golf-view lots at Encanterra carry $25K–$90K premiums. Weigh this against two realities: (1) golf-view lots offer fairway vistas but also potential for errant golf balls and golfer traffic near your yard — verify setbacks; (2) premium views are valued at resale, but the premium you pay must be weighed against your years of occupancy and likely appreciation differential.
Shea Homes Financial (SHFC) offers builder-affiliated financing with periodic incentives. Always compare against independent lenders. Incentives like $10K–$20K closing cost credits tied to builder financing may or may not outperform a competitive conventional lender rate over 30 years — do the math with your agent and a mortgage calculator before deciding.
Encanterra's CC&Rs (ARS §33-1806 disclosure package) govern: exterior paint colors, landscaping standards, fence heights, golf cart storage, short-term rental restrictions, and guest stay limits. Review them during your 10-day inspection window. Understanding them before close prevents surprise violations and HOA enforcement actions.
Ryan Moxley is a Top 1% REALTOR® who works with buyers at Shea Homes communities across the Phoenix metro. His representation is free — Shea pays the agent commission. Get expert guidance on lot selection, floor plan comparison, golf-view premiums, builder financing, and the true all-in monthly cost before you sign.