Which South Tempe Neighborhoods Still Have Acre Lots?
Circle G Ranches, Buena Vista Ranchos and Tally Ho Farms are the three South Tempe neighborhoods to start with if you want a lot close to an acre, or bigger. They were laid out for horses, so the lots are several times the size of a typical suburban lot. Every lot is different, though, so check the size and the recorded rules for the exact parcel before you fall for the house.
Why do these South Tempe neighborhoods have such big lots?
Horses need room. When these neighborhoods were laid out, the idea was a home with space for a barn, a corral or a pasture. Most of the homes went up between the 1970s and the 2000s, many of them custom builds, so no two streets look quite the same.
Today, most people who buy here never own a horse. They come for the land and the quiet. The horse privileges are a nice bonus, and they're part of why the lots stayed big while the rest of the city filled in.
What are the three neighborhoods like?
Circle G Ranches
Circle G Ranches sits near Warner Road and McClintock Drive. Most lots run about 0.70 to 0.91 acre. The whole subdivision carries horse-privilege zoning, though few owners keep horses now. It isn't gated, and it has more than one association, so ask which one covers the home you're looking at. More on my Circle G Ranches page.
Buena Vista Ranchos
Buena Vista Ranchos is part of the same big-lot stretch along the Warner Road corridor. Lots here typically run around an acre. Horses are allowed, but the setup is recorded lot by lot, so check the exact address. It's an open neighborhood with no gate. See my Buena Vista Ranchos page.
Tally Ho Farms
Tally Ho Farms has some of the biggest lots in South Tempe, many of them more than an acre. Much of the neighborhood has no HOA, which appeals to people who want to build or remodel their own way. If that's you, my no-HOA custom estates page has more options. Details on my Tally Ho Farms page.
Is "close to an acre" the same as an acre?
No, and it matters. One acre is 43,560 square feet. A 0.8-acre lot is about 34,800 square feet. That's still huge next to a normal lot, but it's roughly a fifth smaller than a full acre.
Shape matters just as much as size. A wide lot gives you room beside the house for an RV gate or a casita. A deep lot gives you a long backyard but may leave the sides tight. Two lots with the same number on paper can feel completely different when you stand in them.
And what you can build or keep depends on the recorded rules for that specific parcel. Horses, a guest house, a big shop, a second driveway: none of that is a given just because the neighbor has one.
What's it like to live on these streets?
You're trading tidy for space. There are no sidewalks on many streets, the shoulders are dirt, and once in a while you'll be behind a horse trailer on the way out. Mailboxes and landscaping vary house to house. Some people love that. Some find it messy.
That's why I say walk the street before you fall for the house. Go once in the morning and once in the evening. If the street feels right, the house usually can be fixed. If the street feels wrong, no kitchen will save it.
How do you check a lot before writing an offer?
Here's the short version of what I look at for you:
The lot size from the Maricopa County Assessor's record, not just the listing
The shape of the lot on the recorded plat map
Any recorded restrictions or CC&Rs for that parcel
Whether there's an HOA, which one, and what it covers
Whether the lot has irrigation, and how it works
The age of the big systems, since many of these homes are older
My checklist on what to check before buying a home in Arizona goes deeper on the house itself. For a wider view of land and horse neighborhoods, see my horse property and acreage page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to own a horse to buy here?
No. Most people who buy in these neighborhoods never own one. They come for the space.
Are there other South Tempe neighborhoods with big lots?
Yes. Nearby neighborhoods like Warner Estates, Shady Lane Estates and Calle de Caballos also have larger lots. Sizes and rules vary.
Does horse privilege mean I can keep any animal or build anything?
No. It depends on the zoning and the recorded rules for that parcel. Check before you write an offer.
Are these neighborhoods gated?
Circle G Ranches and Buena Vista Ranchos are open neighborhoods. Tally Ho Farms is mostly open too, with a small gated pocket of newer homes.
Most people I sit with are worried about the same thing: overpaying, or leaving money on the table. My job is local facts and an honest opinion, even when the answer is "don't move yet." You stop guessing and start deciding.
The right home on the right street. Moved once. Equity intact.
Text me at 480-448-2020, or book a 15-minute call.
