Buying a Mobile Home in Glendale, AZ
Glendale sits on the west side of the Phoenix metro, with about 260,000 people. It’s where the Cardinals play, where the Valley’s big concerts and events land, and where a lot of West Valley families shop and work. If you want a mobile home on the west side with Phoenix right next door, Glendale is worth a close look. Here’s what living there is like before you start touring homes.
What is Glendale like to live in?
Glendale has two personalities. The older east side, where downtown and most of the established neighborhoods sit, goes back to the 1890s. Its historic downtown is known for antique shops, small restaurants and holiday events. The west side grew much later and is built around the Westgate Entertainment District, State Farm Stadium and newer shopping.
Most of daily life happens on the big north-south and east-west roads, with neighborhoods tucked behind them. It’s a car city, and it moves at a regular suburban pace except on game and concert nights near Westgate.
What’s the housing like for mobile home buyers?
Mobile homes in Glendale sit mostly in land-lease parks. You buy the home and rent the lot from the park. Your monthly cost is your home payment plus lot rent, and the park has to approve you before you move in.
Many of Glendale’s parks are on the older east side and date to the 1960s and 1970s. Grand Missouri, for example, opened in 1973. Expect remodeled homes next to homes that are mostly original, and look closely at the roof, plumbing and AC on the older ones. Check whether a park is all-ages or 55+ before you tour, because the park’s rules decide who can live there.
Ask each park for the current lot rent and what it covers, in writing, before you make an offer. More on that in What Is Lot Rent and Why Isn’t It Included in the Sale Price? and What to Check Before You Buy a Remodeled Mobile Home.
Where do people shop and eat?
Arrowhead Towne Center in north Glendale is the big indoor mall. Westgate has outdoor shopping and restaurants next to the stadium and arena. Historic downtown Glendale has local restaurants and antique stores. For everyday errands, grocery stores and big-box retail run along the main roads all over the city.
A couple of local favorites:
- Lenny’s Burger Shop on 59th Avenue at Peoria has been serving charbroiled burgers since 1984 in a 1950s-style diner with checkerboard floors. Try the Mexican Burger with green chiles, and get an old-fashioned milkshake.
- The Vig at Park West, just over the line in Peoria near Westgate, is a neighborhood tavern with a patio, cocktails and comfort food. It’s a good stop before or after a game or concert.
What is there to do outside and around town?
- State Farm Stadium is home to the Arizona Cardinals, and the Westgate area around it hosts concerts, games and events at Desert Diamond Arena next door.
- West Wind Glendale 9 Drive-In on 55th Avenue is the last drive-in movie theater in Arizona, a short drive from Grand Missouri. It has nine screens and double features most nights, and you tune your car radio to hear the movie. On weekend mornings the same lot hosts the Glendale Public Market, with produce, baked goods and resale finds.
- Spring training: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox share Camelback Ranch-Glendale every February and March.
- Sahuaro Ranch Park is a historic ranch turned city park, with old ranch buildings, gardens, sports fields and open lawns.
- Thunderbird Conservation Park in north Glendale has desert hiking trails with views across the Valley.
- Glendale Glitters lights up historic downtown every December, and downtown also hosts a chocolate festival in February.
Schools and community resources
Glendale is served by several school districts, depending on the address. They include Glendale Elementary, Glendale Union High School, Peoria Unified, Deer Valley and others, and parts of east Glendale fall in Phoenix-area districts. Look up the district for the exact address before you buy.
Glendale Community College and Midwestern University’s medical school are in the city, and ASU’s West campus is just across the line in west Phoenix.
How do you get around Glendale?
You’ll drive. Glendale has no light rail stops, so it’s a car or Valley Metro buses. The Loop 101 runs through the west side, the Loop 303 runs farther west, and Grand Avenue cuts diagonally across the city toward downtown Phoenix. I-17 is a short drive east of the city.
Sky Harbor is the nearest commercial airport, about 30 minutes away depending on traffic. Glendale Municipal Airport serves private planes only.
Luke Air Force Base is Glendale’s largest employer, followed by Banner Health and Arrowhead Towne Center. If you’ll commute into Phoenix, drive the route at your real commute time first, because the freeways back up at rush hour.
The honest downsides
Event traffic. Cardinals games, concerts and big events at Westgate pack the Loop 101 and the surrounding roads. If you live or drive nearby, learn the schedule.
The heat. Summer regularly runs over 100 degrees from June into September. In a mobile home, the AC unit matters more than the paint or the flooring. Ask how old it is and when it was last serviced.
Older parks. The parks on the east side date back decades, and so do many of the homes in them. Budget for repairs on an original home.
No light rail. Without a car, getting around Glendale takes more planning than it does in Tempe or Mesa.
Lot rent can change. The park sets lot rent and can raise it at renewal. Ask what the increases have looked like in recent years.
What newcomers learn their first year
Check the Westgate event calendar before you plan a drive on the Loop 101 on a game night.
Monsoon season runs from about July through September and brings dust storms and sudden heavy rain. Pull over when a dust storm hits.
Summer errands happen early. Locals shop, walk dogs and do yard work before 10 a.m.
Park approval takes time. Have your ID and income information ready so the application doesn’t hold up your move.
Mobile home parks we work with in Glendale
Grand Missouri
4400 W Missouri Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301
All-Ages Community
Grand Missouri is an all-ages community on the east side of Glendale, close to the Phoenix line, with about 303 home sites. It opened in 1973. It has a clubhouse, a pool and spa, a billiard room, a shuffleboard court, a playground and a walking path, with staff and a sales office on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there mobile homes for sale in Glendale, AZ?
Yes. We sell mobile homes in Glendale parks, including Grand Missouri. Join our Preferred Buyers List and we’ll contact you when a Glendale home becomes available.
Is Grand Missouri all-ages or 55+?
Grand Missouri is an all-ages community. If you’re looking at another Glendale park, check its age rules before you tour.
Do I own the land when I buy a mobile home in Glendale?
In most Glendale parks, no. You own the home and pay monthly lot rent to the park for the space it sits on.
Can I get owner financing on a mobile home in Glendale?
Yes. We offer owner financing on every home we sell, and we carry the note ourselves. Call us at (602) 641-3237 to talk through how it works.
How do I buy a mobile home in Glendale?
Find the home, get approved by the park, then close the sale. We walk you through each step, including the park application. Here’s the full step-by-step process.
Ready to look at homes in Glendale? Browse our current listings or call (602) 641-3237 to join the Preferred Buyers List.
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