Encore at Eastmark

What Kind of Place Is This?

Encore at Eastmark is a gated 55+ community of 973 single-family homes situated within the 3,200-acre Eastmark master-planned development in southeast Mesa, Arizona. The community sits near the intersection of Signal Butte Road and Williams Field Road, roughly 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix and about 14 minutes from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Encore operates as a distinct enclave inside Eastmark — meaning residents have access to both their own Encore-specific amenities and the broader Eastmark community infrastructure, including the Eastmark Great Park — a 100-acre central park featuring a splash pad, amphitheater, disc golf course, fishing lake, dog park, and ball fields. The 55+ gate means the community functions independently from the family-oriented portions of Eastmark, but the surrounding master plan provides context: tree-lined roads, connected bike and walking paths, and manicured greenbelts that run throughout.

The Physical Environment

Homes were built between 2015 and 2022 by two separate builders — AV Homes (which was subsequently acquired by Taylor Morrison) and Taylor Morrison directly. That dual-builder origin produced 13 to 16 distinct floor plans ranging from approximately 1,339 to 2,915 square feet, covering 2 to 4 bedrooms and 2 to 2.5 bathrooms. Garage configurations run from 2-car to 3-car. All homes are single-story, which is consistent with the 55+ design orientation of the community.

Lot sizes are modest by suburban Phoenix standards — this is a maintenance-conscious community, not an estate community. Construction is production-grade: open-concept interiors, tile flooring, granite countertops, and walk-in pantries are standard features across most plans. Exterior landscaping is desert-adapted and low-maintenance, with homes connected by the Eastmark pathway network.

The Encore Club, the community's 15,000-square-foot recreation center, anchors the social geography of the neighborhood. It houses a fitness center, movement studio, arts and crafts studio, library, billiards room, multipurpose classrooms, and the Proving Grounds Café. Outdoor amenities — the resort-style heated pool and spa, 3 pickleball courts, 2 tennis courts, 3 bocce ball courts, a dog park, an event lawn, and firepits — are clustered around the clubhouse.

One important note for prospective buyers: as of early 2024, the HOA was engaged in litigation with the original pool builder over construction defects. This has affected the main community pool's operational status at various points. The case against AVH EM LLC was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court and was subsequently dismissed, but buyers should confirm current pool status directly with the HOA before purchase.

Who Thrives Here?

• Residents who want a structured activity calendar without building it themselves. A full-time Lifestyle Director manages the programming. The weekly schedule includes yoga, water aerobics, pickleball leagues, art classes, game nights, and social events. The community is built for participation, not passive enjoyment.
• Residents who want East Valley access at prices below Scottsdale comparables. Homes in Encore price roughly 30–40% below similarly appointed communities in North Scottsdale. The tradeoff is a longer drive to Scottsdale's dining and cultural amenities — approximately 35 minutes without traffic.
• Residents who want master-planned community infrastructure without the scale of a Sun City or Trilogy. At 973 homes, Encore is large enough to sustain a full club calendar but small enough that the community center does not feel anonymous. By comparison, Sun City Grand in Surprise has nearly 10,000 homes.
• Residents who want walkable internal connectivity. The Eastmark trail and path network provides biking and walking options within the master plan. The Walk Score of 8 reflects the external car-dependency — off-site errands require driving — but internal connectivity is genuinely good relative to comparable East Valley communities.
• Residents who want a newer construction community in the eastern Mesa corridor. With build years spanning 2015–2022, Encore homes are newer than Fountain of the Sun (1970s), Leisure World (1970s–1990s), or Sunland Springs Village (1980s–1990s), which matters for mechanical systems, energy efficiency, and resale trajectory.

Who Should Look Elsewhere?

Honest assessment: Encore at Eastmark is not the right fit for every retirement lifestyle. Here's who should keep looking.

• If you want walkable access to restaurants, shops, and services — Encore's Walk Score is 8 out of 100. Every off-site errand requires a car. Consider communities closer to established commercial corridors in Chandler or Scottsdale if daily walkability matters to you.
• If you want golf within the community — Encore at Eastmark has no golf course. The community is oriented around pickleball, tennis, bocce, and fitness. Nearby options include Sunland Springs Village (27-hole executive course) and Trilogy at Power Ranch in Gilbert, both within 15–20 minutes. If on-site golf is a priority, those communities deliver it and Encore does not.
• If you want a large, diverse amenity footprint — 15,000 square feet of clubhouse serves 973 homes. That ratio is adequate but not exceptional. Communities like Sun City Grand (multiple clubhouses, four golf courses) or Trilogy at Power Ranch offer more amenity square footage per home. Encore's amenity package is solid, not resort-level.
• If you want complete certainty about HOA financial health — Reserve fund status and detailed financial disclosures are not publicly available for Encore. The 2024 HOA litigation involving the original developer (dismissed) introduces a degree of governance history that buyers should investigate through a full HOA disclosure packet before closing. Any HOA with active or recent litigation warrants closer scrutiny.
• If you want a low HOA fee — At $239/month (reported 2024–2025 listings), Encore's fee is higher than Sunland Springs Village (approximately $65–$200/month depending on unit type) and Leisure World (approximately $264–$643/month depending on property type). The fee is commensurate with a newer community's amenity load, but it is a real carrying cost to factor into affordability.

Social Temperature

Encore at Eastmark structures its social life through a full-time Lifestyle Director and a calendar-driven programming model. The community supports dozens of resident-organized clubs spanning sports (pickleball, tennis, bocce, cycling, walking groups), arts (painting, stained glass, jewelry-making, scrapbooking), games (Mah Jongg, bunco, poker, canasta, checkers, chess), and social interest (book club, dog-walking groups, educational workshops).

Community events include BBQs, holiday parties, ice cream socials, culinary showcases, concerts, movie nights, and seasonal tournaments. The model is participation-dependent — residents who engage with the programming find a dense social calendar; residents who prefer passive community membership will find fewer natural touchpoints.

Newcomer Integration

New resident orientation programs are coordinated through the HOA and Lifestyle Director office. Specific orientation structure (whether a formal welcome program or informal introduction process) was not publicly detailed in available sources. Prospective buyers should ask the HOA directly about onboarding programming. Resident sentiment on review platforms consistently identifies neighbor friendliness and community events as primary positives, suggesting that social integration happens, though the formality of that process is unclear.

Seasonal Dynamics

No publicly available data quantifies the exact percentage of seasonal residents at Encore at Eastmark. The community is listed as a destination for winter visitors on East Valley snowbird resource sites. Based on comparable 55+ communities in the Phoenix metro, seasonal departure rates in summer (June through September) typically range from 20–40% in communities of this type and price range. Lower-priced communities with a higher percentage of full-time permanent residents tend toward the lower end of that range. Buyers planning to use pool and fitness facilities during summer should confirm operational continuity with the HOA — summer programming often contracts as participation declines.

Governance Reality

Why this matters: HOA governance is the #1 source of complaints in communities — and the topic almost nobody covers honestly.

Encore at Eastmark's HOA is a self-governing homeowner association managed by HOAMCO (7010 E. Chauncey Lane, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85054; (480) 994-4479). The board consists of seven elected directors — President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and three Directors at Large — meeting bi-monthly in a two-session format: a workshop for discussion followed by a formal vote meeting. Both sessions are open to residents under Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1804.

HOA fees reported on 2024–2025 listings range from $172 to $249 per month, with the most frequently cited current rate at $239/month. Fee history prior to 2020 is not publicly documented, but the trajectory from the community's 2015 opening (when fees were approximately $63–$126/month before the Encore Club was complete) to the current $239/month reflects the full amenity load becoming operational. That represents a substantial increase over the community's lifespan, though the rate of increase in recent years is unknown without access to the HOA's annual budgets.

Reserve fund status is not publicly disclosed. Arizona law requires HOAs to conduct reserve studies, but those documents are generally accessible only to members, not prospective buyers. Request the reserve study and the most recent two years of financial statements as part of any purchase due diligence. Given the 2024 litigation (Encore at Eastmark HOA v. AVH EM LLC) over construction defects — which was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court and subsequently dismissed — buyers should understand whether the pool-related dispute resulted in any unresolved assessments or pending remediation costs.

CC&R enforcement covers standard architectural review requirements (plans must be submitted before any exterior change), parking restrictions (RVs permitted in driveways for up to 24 hours for cleaning, not long-term storage), and rental restrictions (minimum 180-day lease; short-term rentals are not permitted). Pet policies allow for dogs and cats; governing documents include barking dog restrictions.

Fee Trajectory

Quick Stats

Amenities

Location & Medical Access

Encore at Eastmark is located at approximately 5620 South Encore, Mesa, AZ 85212, near the intersection of Signal Butte Road and Williams Field Road in southeast Mesa. This positions the community in a rapidly developing corridor of the East Valley, close to Queen Creek, Gilbert, and the San Tan Valley area.

Medical Access Assessment

The community is within reasonable driving distance of several hospital systems. Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert (1900 N. Higley Road) is the most frequently cited nearest full-service hospital, approximately 8–10 miles from the community — a 15-minute drive under normal conditions. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center (3555 S. Val Vista Drive, Gilbert) is a second option at a comparable distance. Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa is farther west but reachable within 25–30 minutes. Mayo Clinic's Scottsdale campus is approximately 30–35 miles to the northwest, a 35–45 minute drive depending on traffic.

For specialist care and major medical procedures, the distance to Mayo Clinic and larger Phoenix-area hospital systems is a meaningful consideration. This is not a community adjacent to a major medical campus — prospective residents managing chronic conditions or requiring frequent specialist visits should map out their specific care network before committing.

Walk Score and Accessibility

Encore at Eastmark has a Walk Score of 8 (Car-Dependent), a Bike Score of 40 (Somewhat Bikeable), and a Transit Score of 0. These numbers reflect the broader 85212 zip code's development pattern: a suburban area built around the automobile, with no meaningful public transit service and limited pedestrian infrastructure off-site. Internal walkability within the Eastmark master plan is better than these scores suggest — the trail network and sidewalks within the community are well-maintained — but all off-site destinations require a vehicle.

Summer Reality Check

The honest answer to the question you're afraid to ask: What does July actually feel like in Encore at Eastmark?

Mesa's average July high temperature is 106°F (41°C), with overnight lows averaging around 80°F (27°C). Heat events above 110°F occur multiple times each summer. The monsoon season (July–September) adds humidity spikes that make outdoor activity feel markedly worse than dry heat alone. Between approximately June 15 and September 15, outdoor activity between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. becomes genuinely uncomfortable and carries heat-related health risks.

Estimated seasonal departure from communities like Encore — based on comparable 55+ East Valley communities — runs 20–35% of residents leaving for cooler climates between June and September. During those months, the pickleball courts, event lawn, and outdoor common areas see substantially reduced use. The Encore Club's indoor amenities (fitness center, arts studio, billiards, café) continue operating, but programming frequency often decreases as participation declines.

Electricity costs are a real line item in the summer budget. Mesa-area homes served by SRP pay summer peak rates that can push monthly electric bills to $250–$400 for a 2,000 square foot home running central air continuously. Homes at Encore with 3-car garages or higher square footage will trend toward the upper end of that range. Expect your July and August electricity bills to be two to three times your winter bills.

The First Summer vs. The Second Summer

Most residents who relocate from northern or coastal states describe the first summer as the hardest adjustment. The combination of heat, reduced outdoor activity, and quieter streets can feel isolating. By the second summer, most long-term residents have restructured their day: early morning outdoor activity (6–8 a.m.), indoor programming mid-day, and late afternoon or evening outdoor time. The community's indoor amenities and the Proving Grounds Café become more central to daily routine during summer months. The transition is real, and buyers who plan to be full-year residents should factor it into their lifestyle assessment honestly.

Best For

Encore at Eastmark is best suited for residents who want a structured, amenity-rich 55+ environment within the Eastmark master plan, at East Valley prices that run meaningfully below comparable communities in Scottsdale or Gilbert's most premium offerings. The combination of a full-time activities director, a 15,000-square-foot clubhouse, and integration with the broader Eastmark trail and park network makes this a genuine lifestyle community — not a passive residential subdivision with a shared pool.

Compared to Trilogy at Power Ranch in Gilbert (HOA fees reported at $400–$600/month for most homes) or Las Sendas in northeast Mesa (median home price around $725,000), Encore offers similar master-planned community characteristics at lower total carrying costs. The tradeoff is the absence of on-site golf, smaller amenity scale, and the car-dependency that comes with any southeast Mesa location. Residents who want walkability to off-site restaurants or who prioritize golf as a daily activity will need to look at other communities. For residents who want a newer home, a dense social calendar, and East Valley convenience without Scottsdale pricing, Encore is a credible option worth a serious visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Compare Encore at Eastmark

See how Encore at Eastmark stacks up against comparable communities in the Phoenix metro:

• Full comparison table: All communities rated and compared
• Sunland Springs Village — Established 55+ golf community in Mesa with 2,890 homes and a 27-hole executive course; HOA fees lower but homes average 20–30 years older than Encore
• Trilogy at Power Ranch — Larger amenity footprint and golf in Gilbert; HOA fees reported at $400–$600/month, notably higher than Encore's $239/month
• Fountain of the Sun — Established 55+ community in Mesa with lower entry prices ($250K–$350K) but 1970s-era construction and more dated infrastructure
• Leisure World — Large gated Mesa community (2,664 homes) with strong amenity base and mountain views; homes built 1970s–1990s with strong established social infrastructure
• Eastmark (non-age-restricted) — The broader master-planned community surrounding Encore; all-ages and family-oriented, with the same location benefits but without 55+ gate or Encore Club access
• Las Sendas — Luxury gated community in northeast Mesa with golf and mountain views; median home prices near $725K — approximately 45% above Encore's midpoint

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Last updated: March 7, 2026 · Data sources: Maricopa County Assessor, ARMLS, community records, resident forums, Google Reviews (18 sources total)