Sun City Texas — True Annual Cost

HOA + working capital fee + golf + property taxes + insurance. Four buyer scenarios. The numbers nobody hands you at the model home.

Why “HOA is only $100/month” Is Not Enough Information

Sun City Texas' $100/month HOA is one of the lowest in any major 55+ community in the country. It is also the number most likely to set buyer expectations incorrectly. The true annual cost of owning a Sun City home — including all the fees, taxes, insurance, and optional costs that do not appear in the marketing — varies by $6,000–$8,000 between a non-golf primary resident and a golf-serious couple in Sun City North. This guide works through four real scenarios.

The Upfront Cost at Closing

All new purchases — both new construction and resale — at Sun City Texas pay a working capital fee of $650 at closing. This is separate from HOA dues and from standard closing costs. It does not appear on listing sheets and is often not raised in buyer conversations until the closing disclosure is reviewed. Budget for it explicitly.

Four Annual Cost Scenarios

Scenario A: Non-Golf Couple, 65+, $400K Home

Annual HOA dues$1,200/yr ($100/mo)
Property tax (Williamson Co., 65+ all exemptions)~$3,800–$5,200/yr
Homeowners insurance~$1,800–$2,400/yr
Lawn care (not included in HOA)~$1,200–$1,800/yr
Total annual housing costs (ex-mortgage)~$8,000–$10,600/yr (~$667–$883/mo)

Scenario B: Active Golfer (Single), 62, $400K Home

Annual HOA dues$1,200/yr
Golf plan (single, full access)~$2,500/yr
Property tax (under 65 — no over-65 exemption yet)~$5,500–$7,200/yr
Homeowners insurance~$1,800–$2,400/yr
Lawn care~$1,500/yr
Total annual housing costs (ex-mortgage)~$12,500–$14,800/yr (~$1,042–$1,233/mo)

Scenario C: Golf Couple, 65+, $550K Home

Annual HOA dues$1,200/yr
Golf plan (couple, unrestricted)~$4,200/yr
Property tax (65+ primary, all exemptions)~$5,200–$7,000/yr
Homeowners insurance~$2,200–$3,000/yr
Lawn care~$1,500/yr
Total annual housing costs (ex-mortgage)~$14,300–$16,900/yr (~$1,192–$1,408/mo)

Scenario D: Second-Home Buyer (No Exemptions), $450K Home

Annual HOA dues$1,200/yr
Property tax (no exemptions, full rate)~$8,100–$9,900/yr
Homeowners insurance~$2,400–$3,200/yr
Lawn care~$1,500/yr
Total annual housing costs (ex-mortgage)~$13,200–$15,800/yr (~$1,100–$1,317/mo)

Scenario D illustrates the cost of not establishing Texas legal residence. The difference between Scenario A and D ($5,000–$7,200/year) is entirely driven by property tax exemptions. Buyers who purchase Sun City as a second home and maintain legal domicile in another state pay this premium every year — a cost that compounds to $50,000–$72,000 over 10 years.

The Garden Home Surcharge

Seven Sun City neighborhoods (14a, 24a, 25, 30, 24B1, 24B2, 33) are designated Garden Homes with a mandatory landscaping maintenance program. If you purchase in one of these sections, add approximately $1,700/year to the HOA equivalent. Your standard $1,200 HOA becomes approximately $2,900/year. These neighborhoods are clearly identified on the Sun City community map — verify before purchasing in any section you are unfamiliar with.

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