SOUTH TEMPE · NEIGHBORHOODS
GATED · SINGLE-STORYAlisanos, Tempe
A gated South Tempe neighborhood where nearly every home is single-story, built from 1997 to 2001 on lots of about a quarter acre. Many homes sit over a basement, three-car garages are standard and most have a pool. Kyrene schools for the early grades.
Gated
WHOLE
NEIGHBORHOOD
One
Level
Nearly every home
Tempe
City
South Tempe
Kyrene
Schools
Confirm by address
What it's like to live here.
Alisanos is a gate, a quiet grid of streets, and homes that all went up in the same few years. Nearly every house is single-story, so the streets read calm and low, and you are not looking up at a neighbor's second-floor window. The neighborhood sits behind a gate, with walking paths and a playground inside it.
The homes were built from 1997 to 2001, so floor plans and build quality stay consistent from one street to the next. They run from about 2,300 to 4,700 square feet on lots of roughly a quarter acre. The surprise is underneath: many Alisanos homes have a basement, which is rare for a single-story home in Arizona. You get real extra space for a media room, gym or storage while daily life stays on one level. Three-car garages are standard and most homes have a pool.
Lot size is the trade. If you want a half acre or horse property, look a mile south toward Warner Road. If you want one level, a gate and a basement in an established part of Tempe, this is one of the few places that checks all three.
Who it fits
Alisanos fits someone who wants single-level living without giving up space. It suits move-up buyers coming out of a two-story, downsizers who still want room for family to visit, relocation buyers who want an established Tempe address, and anyone who wants a basement for a media room, gym or storage. It is not for someone who needs a big lot, horse privileges or a brand-new build.
Buying here: what to know
Ask how the basement was finished. Basements here range from fully finished living space to simpler storage. Ask what was permitted, how it counts in the square footage and whether there is any water history.
Know the gate and the HOA. Find out what the gate covers, who maintains it and what the HOA pays for. Get the current dues, billing schedule and any transfer fees before you write an offer.
Compare floor plans, not just size. Homes from the same build era can still live very differently. Compare layout, garage, pool and lot, not just square footage.
Look at the updates. These homes are now about 25 years old. Roofs, HVAC, pool equipment and kitchens tell you more about value than the year built.
Written by Ben Graham, REALTOR since 2011. Page updated October 2026.
Good to know.
Selling here: what to know
Alisanos sees steady turnover for a gated neighborhood, so there are usually recent sales inside the gate to compare against. That helps pricing, and it also means your home is measured against the last few that sold, so condition and presentation matter.
For pricing, I start with recent sales inside Alisanos and adjust for what buyers here weigh most: a finished basement, the pool, the lot and how updated the kitchen and baths are. The buyer for a single-story home with a basement in Tempe is usually already looking, so the marketing job is reaching that person directly.
Common questions
Is Alisanos gated?
Yes. The neighborhood sits behind a gate. Ask what the gate covers and how access works for a specific home.
Are the homes in Alisanos single-story?
Almost all of them. Nearly every home in Alisanos is single-level.
When were the homes in Alisanos built?
From 1997 to 2001.
Do Alisanos homes have basements?
Many do. Ask how a specific basement is finished and how it counts in the square footage.
What schools serve Alisanos?
C. I. Waggoner Elementary in the Kyrene district and Mountain Pointe High. Confirm for the specific address.
Is there an HOA in Alisanos?
Yes. It covers the gate and common areas, including the paths and playground. Ask for the current dues and billing schedule when you write an offer.
Who this fits.
“Alisanos is where South Tempe buyers land when they want a gate and one level without giving up space. Nearly every home is single-story, and a lot of them have a basement underneath. That combination is hard to find anywhere in the Valley, and the buyers who want it usually know exactly what they are looking for.”
The specs.
Basements
Many homesBuild years 1997–2001
Typical sqft 2,300–4,700
Typical lot About 0.23 ac
Garages 3-car standard
Pools Most homes
HOAYes, ask for current dues
Gated Yes
Elementary C. I. Waggoner
Middle Confirm by address
High Mountain Pointe
Where it sits.
Alisanos sits in the 85284 part of South Tempe, off Elliot Road between Kyrene and Rural, right next to Chelsea Manor. It is an established part of Tempe with quick access to I-10 and the Loop 101. Schools are C. I. Waggoner Elementary in the Kyrene district and Mountain Pointe High. Always confirm school assignment for a specific address. As a rough guide, plan on about 15 to 20 minutes to Sky Harbor and 10 to 15 minutes to ASU in Tempe, off-peak. Property taxes run through the City of Tempe and Maricopa County, and Arizona taxes an owner-occupied home lightly by national standards. Check the exact bill for any address on the Maricopa County Treasurer site before you write an offer. Local favorites nearby: Kiwanis Park, with its lake, wave pool and rec center. Changing Hands Bookstore at McClintock and Guadalupe, a Tempe bookstore since 1974. And the Tempe Sports Complex on Hardy Drive.
Want the inside track on Alisanos?
Book a free 15-minute call. I'll tell you what's for sale now, what might be coming, and whether Alisanos fits your move. If you're selling, I'll walk you through what your home could sell for and how we'd find the right buyer.