Question about Gemini Twin homes in Sun City (Phoenix: for sale, apartment)

[ILikeEveryone]

I see a lot of reasonably priced Gemini twin homes for sale in Sun City and have a question for which I could not find a complete enough answer.

Is a Gemini twin home like a condo? Do you pay a fee for them to maintain everything on the exterior (roof, siding, etc.) of the home and the grounds? What exterior portions of the home, if any, would the owner be responsible for?

I know here at Sun City Carolina Lakes in South Carolina they have duplexes, (seems like same thing), and you pay a fee and they cover everything on the grounds and exterior of the home. The owner only has to obtain their own condo "apartment" insurance.

Any helpful comments/suggestions? We are looking heavily at the over 55 communities on our trip. Thanks.

[rjrcm]

You would have to review the HOA documents to be sure what is covered in a specific development. But, in general these homes include exterior maintenance in the HOA fee. Here's an example from one listing:

"Association Fee Incl: Exterior Mnt of Unit; Blanket Ins Policy; Water; Sewer; Garbage Collection; Pest Control; Front Yard Maint; Common Area Maint"

[MotleyCrew]

There are many, many HOA's here in Sun City, so you could contact the realtor who has the listing and they should be able to answer your questions. I do know that with the condo's and twin homes (only two attached) that the HOA fee takes care of the exterior maintenance which includes the paint, roof and landscaping. Glad you will be looking here and we hope you enjoy it.

You may want to go out to see the Del Webb Festival development in SUrprise. It is a ways out but the homes are reasonable and the club house is awesome with tons of clubs starting up, including pottery. Have fun.

[SCBaker]

Originally Posted by ILikeEveryone

I see a lot of reasonably priced Gemini twin homes for sale in Sun City and have a question for which I could not find a complete enough answer.

Is a Gemini twin home like a condo? Do you pay a fee for them to maintain everything on the exterior (roof, siding, etc.) of the home and the grounds? What exterior portions of the home, if any, would the owner be responsible for?

I know here at Sun City Carolina Lakes in South Carolina they have duplexes, (seems like same thing), and you pay a fee and they cover everything on the grounds and exterior of the home. The owner only has to obtain their own condo "apartment" insurance.

Any helpful comments/suggestions? We are looking heavily at the over 55 communities on our trip. Thanks.

I recently purchased and moved into a small Gemini twin home here in the original Sun City. I am very happy to be here and am taking advantage of many of the ammenities offered here in Sun City.

Gemini twin homes are somewhat like a condo accept only 2 units are joined together. Duplex would also describe these units. Condos here in Sun City will be described as Apt. homes/townhomes. Usually 4 units are attached together and typically are located in gated court yard settings. There will be 2 rows of units facing each other seperated by a courtyard. Garages or carports will be attached to each unit facing an alley. Twin homes typically face a wide street with an attached garage or carport. There is a large green belt area seperating the back of the units with many citrus trees. There is also a greenbelt area between each twin home. Sometimes the greenbelt will be desert landscaped.

The description of what is included in HOA fees in rjrcm's post is pretty typical. However, roof repair & maintenance is not included in most or many of Gemini homes associations.

Prices for homes in Sun City have fallen over the past several years because of the boom & bust in Arizona. My home was a foreclosure but prices are beginning to increase. In addition, the exterior of the homes have been maintained very well but the interiors not so much. So prices sometimes do reflect the amount of work & expense to remodel the interiors or replace very old a/c units.

[ILikeEveryone]

Thanks for your comments.

Someone mentioned, (I cannot remember where I heard it), that these original Sun City homes are now called "atomic homes?" Is that accurate? And the big trend is for us younger baby boomers to buy them and redo them. Seems like it would be fun.

Anyway, also wanted to say thanks to all of you who over the months have provided me with a lot of helpful information. I will keep you posted on our impression of Phoenix. I have a feeling we may not get to do half of what we have planned, but hey, it's a vacation!

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by ILikeEveryone

Thanks for your comments.

Someone mentioned, (I cannot remember where I heard it), that these original Sun City homes are now called "atomic homes?" Is that accurate? And the big trend is for us younger baby boomers to buy them and redo them. Seems like it would be fun.

Anyway, also wanted to say thanks to all of you who over the months have provided me with a lot of helpful information. I will keep you posted on our impression of Phoenix. I have a feeling we may not get to do half of what we have planned, but hey, it's a vacation!

There is a magazine called Atomic Ranch and it is for people who love mid century modern homes and has quite a cult following of younger people who love anything retro. We subscribe to it and enjoy it very much. These homes are becoming harder and harder to find and we are glad there is an increasing interest in keeping them on the planet and not turning them into pseudo mediterranean/rock covered disasters.