Copper Crest, Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is located in southern Arizona and has been called a great place to retire and live a simple life. It has a distinct Southwestern flavor and is the setting for the University of Arizona (45,000 students). On the outskirts of the city sits Copper Crest, a gated, well-tended 55+ manufactured home community with 357 residences.

With the Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park as a backdrop, Copper Crest has a palapable desert quality. Homes are placed close to each other and are light colored. Some of the residences are very modest with a just a carport and few improvements since they were first brought to the site in the early-1990s.

Most homes, though, have a garage and upgrades, including granite counter tops, ceramic flooring and a fireplace. More expensive residences may also have vaulted ceilings, a great room. skylights and a screened-in porch. Most properties have two bedrooms and two baths but a few have three bedrooms. Streets are quiet but do not have sidewalks. Landscaping consists primarily of rocks, short trees and Saguaros. Pets are welcome.

Prices begin in the low-$200,000s. The HOA fee is about $85 per month. Please verify these prices with a Realtor as they may change.

Amenities include the clubhouse, which has a fitness center, a billiards room, a library and a ceramics studio. An outdoor swimming pool, a hottub and a chipping green are further ways to stay busy. Social groups and activities are many and include an art group, bingo games, bowling, coffee get-togethers, line dancing, pot lucks, quilting, aerobics and others.

Outside of Copper Crest’s gates, Tucson has world-class spas, casinos, UofA athletics, 30 museums and 35 golf courses. The Historic Arts District has festivals, art walks and plenty of farmers’ markets for buying fresh produce. Fourth Avenue is a fun shopping venue. Ballet Arizona, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Tucson Jazz Society and the Arizona Theater Company all have loyal followings. The SAGE Society (Study, Activity Growth and Enrichment) provides continuing learning-in-retirement experiences.

Tucson has seven hospitals, and the University of Arizona Medical Center has won numerous national awards. It is accredited by the Joint Commission and accepts Medicare patients.

Summer temperatures reach into the low-100s, and winter temperatures are in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Monsoon Season comes in mid- to late-summer and can bring intense thunderstorms, flash flooding and high humidity. On average, the city receives about 10 inches of rain per year.