Updated October 2026. Val Vista Lakes is a 900-acre lake community at Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive in north Gilbert. It dates to 1985 and is often cited as Gilbert’s first lake subdivision. It mixes lakefront and off-lake homes across 24 subdivisions, with a resort-style clubhouse, and its homes are among the oldest of any Gilbert master plan. That age matters a lot when you own one as a rental.
Val Vista Lakes at a glance
The community wraps around a chain of man-made lakes in north Gilbert, close to US 60 and a short drive from the Loop 202. The master association covers about 2,020 homes plus about 280 commercial properties, including grocery stores, restaurants, medical offices, preschools and banks, according to a 2021 announcement when the board hired outside management after more than 30 years of self-management.
- Location: Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive, north Gilbert
- ZIP: 85234
- Built: from 1985, mostly 1980s and 1990s
- Size: about 900 acres, 24 residential subdivisions
- HOA: The Val Vista Lakes Community Association
- School district: Gilbert Public Schools
- Age-restricted: no
Homes in Val Vista Lakes
Housing ranges from condos and townhomes to production single-family homes and gated custom enclaves, both on and off the water. Several of the 24 subdivisions are gated. Some have their own sub-associations, such as Regatta at Val Vista Lakes, which appears on the Town of Gilbert’s HOA registry. Lakefront lots are the premium product, while interior homes give buyers and renters access to the same clubhouse for less.
Clubhouse, lakes and nearby amenities
The association’s clubhouse on Lakeside Drive is the main draw, according to the association’s website:
- A tropical lagoon pool with a sandy beach and waterfalls
- A junior Olympic pool and spa
- An eight-court tennis complex and indoor racquetball courts
- Cardio and weight rooms, plus banquet and meeting rooms
- Four sports parks, bike paths and greenbelts
The HOA has also offered pedal boats and kayaks, dive-in movies and a holiday boat parade, Phoenix Magazine reported. Nearby, the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch on Guadalupe Road has trails and birding. Freestone Park, Dana Park’s shops and downtown Gilbert’s Heritage District are all close. Banner Gateway and Mercy Gilbert medical centers are the nearest hospitals.
Schools serving Val Vista Lakes
Val Vista Lakes is in Gilbert Public Schools. Val Vista Lakes Elementary is inside the community on Blue Grotto Drive, and older students commonly attend Greenfield Junior High and Gilbert High School. Use the district’s school finder to confirm the assignment for a particular address.
HOA and rental rules for landlords
The Val Vista Lakes Community Association runs the lakes, clubhouse and parks from its office at 1600 E. Lakeside Drive; its management company is HOAMCO, per the association’s site. Governing documents are posted on the association’s resident portal. We didn’t find a published leasing summary, so check both the master CC&Rs and any sub-association rules for minimum lease terms and lake-use rules for tenants.
Arizona’s A.R.S. 33-1806.01 lets owners rent unless the declaration prohibits it, subject to the declaration’s rental time-period limits. The HOA may require only adult occupants’ names and contact information, lease dates and tenant vehicle details, and may charge no more than $25 per new tenancy for it. For homes we manage, we file that registration with the master association and any sub-association and help tenants get clubhouse access.
Renting out a home in Val Vista Lakes
Renters choose Val Vista Lakes for the lifestyle: a beach-style pool, tennis and lake views at a location with quick US 60 access to Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix. Families like having an elementary school inside the neighborhood. Lakefront and gated homes draw a smaller, higher-budget pool, so they can take longer to lease if they aren’t updated.
Older homes here benefit from regular inspections, which is why many owners pick our Property Plus plan with its twice-yearly interior HomeCare Checks. See all three plans on our pricing page, learn about our Gilbert property management, or get a free rental analysis.
Buying a rental in Val Vista Lakes
Most homes are 30 to 40 years old, so assume older plumbing, original windows and electrical panels in some houses, and AC, roof and water-heater replacements if they haven’t already been done. Get a thorough inspection, and on lakefront homes check any dock or lake-edge structures and the maintenance responsibilities spelled out in the CC&Rs.
Lake frontage typically commands a premium on purchase, so compare it with the rent difference before paying for it. Review the master association’s and any sub-association’s dues and reserves in the resale packet. Register the rental with the Maricopa County Assessor under A.R.S. 33-1902, and set up a security deposit that follows Arizona’s security deposit rules.
Homes for sale in Val Vista Lakes
Live MLS listings in Val Vista Lakes, updated daily. Open the full Val Vista Lakes search or see our homes for rent.
Other Gilbert communities we know well
Val Vista Lakes FAQ
The community dates to 1985 and is described as Gilbert’s first lake subdivision. Most homes were built in the 1980s and 1990s.
At Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive in north Gilbert, ZIP 85234, close to US 60.
About 900 acres with 24 residential subdivisions. A 2021 management announcement put it at about 2,020 homes plus about 280 commercial properties.
A lagoon pool with a sandy beach, a junior Olympic pool and spa, eight tennis courts, indoor racquetball, a fitness area and banquet rooms.
Gilbert Public Schools. Val Vista Lakes Elementary is inside the community, with Greenfield Junior High and Gilbert High commonly serving older students; confirm by address.
Yes. Several of the 24 subdivisions are gated, including custom-home enclaves, and some have their own sub-associations.
Arizona law lets owners lease unless the CC&Rs prohibit it, subject to any rental time limits. Check the master and any sub-association documents, and expect to register tenant details with the HOA.