Havasu Foothills Estates: a buyer's guide

Where it is

Havasu Foothills Estates sits on the east edge of Lake Havasu City at the top of Cherry Tree Boulevard, where the city meets the foothills of the Mohave Mountains. It is higher than most of the city.

That height is what gives it wide views of the lake and the mountains. It also puts it farther from the launch ramps and from the stores along State Route 95.

Homes and lots

The community was built in phases. Local sources describe these sections:

• The Arroyos. An established section with wide homesites.
• The Enclaves. A newer gated phase with semi-custom homes.
• Ladera North and South. Hillside sections with broad views.
• The Villas at the Foothills. Smaller lots, planned for more than 180 homesites.
• Trinity. The newest phase, for custom estate homes.

Lots range from about 10,000 square feet in The Villas to estate lots of roughly 0.4 to 2 acres. Homes are custom or semi-custom, often in a hacienda or modern desert style. The area is zoned for residential estates, with underground utilities, sidewalks and curbs.

On a hillside, total lot size and usable lot size are different numbers. A one-acre lot may have a building pad that is a fraction of that. Paige can walk a lot and show you where the flat ground ends.

Garages and storage

This is a main reason buyers come here. The larger lots allow double RV and boat-deep garages alongside a regular two-car garage. Some homes add a casita and a pool and still have room.

Check each one. Depth and door height vary by builder. On a sloped lot, also check the driveway. A long, steep or curving approach can make a deep garage hard to use with a big rig. See how to judge an RV garage.

Amenities

Havasu Foothills Estates is not an amenity community in the clubhouse sense. What it offers is space, a neighborhood park and playground, sidewalks, and direct access to desert trails and open land.

HOA and rules

There is an association with design standards. Dues are generally low but differ by phase. Recent listings show figures from about $125 a year in one section to about $75 a month in a gated section. Building guidelines are meant to protect views and keep a consistent look.

Because dues and rules differ so much inside one community name, ask for the documents for the exact phase. The guide to HOA and PUD questions covers what to read.

Lake access

There is no lake access in the community. You will tow to a public ramp. From the east side that is a longer drive than from most of the city, with some downhill grades on the way. Drive it with your trailer before you commit.

What buyers compare it with

• Large no-HOA lots elsewhere in the city, for garage freedom without design rules.
• North Pointe, for deep RV garages on smaller lots closer to shopping.
• Havasu Riviera, for a newer home near the water with a smaller lot.

Questions to investigate

• Which phase is this, and is it gated?
• What are the dues and design rules for that phase?
• How much of the lot is level and usable?
• What could be built on the lots downhill, and how tall?
• How steep and how long is the driveway?
• What are the garage's door height and clear depth?
• How long is the tow to the ramp you would use?
• For a lot: what will site work cost on this slope before the house starts?

Questions buyers ask

Is Havasu Foothills Estates gated?

Parts of it are. The community has gated sections, including The Enclaves and Ladera, alongside streets with no gate. Ask which applies to the home you are looking at.

How big are the lots in Havasu Foothills Estates?

They vary by phase. The developer describes estate lots of roughly 0.4 to 2 acres, while The Villas at the Foothills has smaller lots of around 10,000 square feet. Usable flat area can be much less than the total on a hillside lot.

How far is Havasu Foothills Estates from the lake?

It is on the far east side of the city, so it is one of the longer in-town drives to any ramp. Time it yourself with a trailer, to the ramp you would actually use, before you decide.