You've spent your life on Texas land or dreaming about it. You know what a hot summer feels like. You know what property taxes look like on a paid-off house in Harris County or Collin County.
Goswick Ranch is a private gated community in Arizona's Bradshaw Mountains — 75 miles north of Phoenix, 9 acres minimum per lot, $216 a year in HOA dues, and property taxes that average about $476 a year.
In July, it's 80°F.
You can live here full-time, part-time, or hold it as an investment. There is no occupancy requirement.
| Location | E Poland Road, Mayer, AZ 86333 |
| Elevation | 4,400–6,000 ft |
| Lot minimum | 9 acres (CC&R covenant) |
| HOA fee | $216/year |
| Gate | Gated; private road |
| Allowed | Horses, cattle, livestock, site-built homes (1,500 sq ft min) |
| Item | Texas (Dallas/Houston est.) | Goswick Ranch / Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Annual property taxes | ~$5,500–$6,500/yr (metro areas); 2–2.5% effective rate | ~$476/yr |
| Annual HOA | $1,200–$4,800/yr | $216/year |
| State income tax | None | 2.5% flat — modest offset |
| Summer temperature | 100–108°F, high humidity | ~80°F at elevation |
| Hurricane/flood insurance | Gulf Coast: increasing; some carriers exiting | Not applicable |
On property taxes alone: The difference between a $6,500 Texas property tax bill and a $476 Arizona bill is approximately $6,000 per year — $120,000 over a 20-year retirement.
Texas has no state income tax; Arizona's 2.5% flat rate is a modest offset. The net picture still strongly favors Arizona for total cost of ownership — especially for buyers on fixed retirement income.
Numbers are estimates for general comparison. Consult a licensed real estate agent, tax advisor, and attorney before making any purchase decision.
Houston averages over 100 days per year above 90°F. Dallas is similar. Add humidity, and July in Houston is not a place where aging joints and outdoor plans coexist well.
At 4,400–6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains, Goswick Ranch averages highs in the 80s°F through summer. The monsoon brings dramatic afternoon thunderstorms mid-June through September — intense, brief, and followed by cool air. It is nothing like Phoenix, and nothing like Houston.
Spring brings wildflowers. Fall turns the oaks. Winter is 40s–50s°F days with occasional snow and some of the darkest, most star-filled skies in the American West.
Phoenix is 75 miles south if you need the heat. Goswick Ranch is 6,000 feet up.
The CC&Rs and Yavapai County zoning (RCU-2A) allow genuine rural land use. Texas land buyers already know what this infrastructure looks like — private well, propane, septic, room for animals.
Explicitly permitted. Prescott National Forest trail access from Poland Road — hundreds of miles of equestrian trails.
Permitted per the Yavapai County Allowed Animal Chart.
Permitted under RCU-2A zoning.
Private well, propane utilities, septic — standard rural setup that Texas land buyers already understand.
San Antonio to Mayer via I-10 West: ~800 miles, 8-hour drive. Dallas to Mayer via I-20 W / I-10 W: ~1,050 miles. Houston to Mayer via I-10 W: ~1,150 miles. A straightforward Texas road trip — many buyers drive out to see the property on a long weekend.
Dallas (DFW/DAL), Houston (IAH/HOU), Austin (AUS), and San Antonio (SAT) all have multiple daily nonstop flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX). Flight time ~2–2.5 hours. The community is 74 miles north of the airport.
Yes. Arizona's effective property tax rate is among the lowest in the US. At Goswick Ranch, median property taxes run approximately $476/year. Texas's effective rate of 2–2.5% means a $300,000 property carries $6,000–$7,500/year in taxes. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.
Texas has no state income tax; Arizona's is 2.5% flat. On $80,000 in retirement income, that's approximately $2,000/year that Texas keeps in your pocket. The property tax savings in Arizona more than offset this for most buyers, but the net depends on your specific income and property values.
Daytime highs are typically in the 80s°F at 4,400–6,000 ft elevation. This compares to Phoenix at 110°F+ and Texas metros at 100–108°F with humidity. The monsoon season (mid-June through September) brings afternoon thunderstorms followed by cool air.
Yes. Horses are explicitly permitted under the CC&Rs. Cattle, goats, and large livestock are permitted per the Yavapai County Allowed Animal Chart. Goswick Ranch is zoned RCU-2A — Rural Community Unincorporated — enabling genuine rural land use.
Questions about the community or planning a visit — the Goswick Ranch Board of Directors provides direct, timely responses.