Thirty years of navigating the Beltway, the Metro, the GSA approval process, or the Pentagon parking garage. You've earned somewhere that doesn't come with any of that.
Goswick Ranch is a private gated community in Arizona's Bradshaw Mountains. No management company. No approval committee for the color of your front door. No traffic. A volunteer board of your neighbors, a gated private road, 9 acres minimum per lot, and $216 a year in HOA dues.
Property taxes average about $476 a year. Arizona's income tax is 2.5% flat. Military retirement pay is not taxed in Arizona.
You can live here full-time, part-time, or hold it as an investment. 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 |
| Management | Self-managed volunteer board — no management company |
| Allowed | Horses, cattle, livestock, site-built homes (1,500 sq ft min) |
| Item | DC / Maryland | Goswick Ranch / Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Annual property taxes | Montgomery Co avg ~$5,500/yr; Fairfax ~$7,000/yr | ~$476/yr |
| State + local income tax | MD: up to 8.95% (state + county); DC: up to 10.75%; VA: up to 5.75% | 2.5% flat |
| Annual HOA | DC/MD HOAs often $4,800–$12,000/yr | $216/year |
| Military retirement pay | MD: taxed; VA: partial exemption | Not taxed in AZ |
| Estate tax | MD: yes (above $5M) + inheritance tax; DC: yes | None in AZ |
Arizona does not tax military retirement pay. If you're drawing a military pension, this is a direct, calculable annual savings. The Bob Stump VA Medical Center in Prescott is 30 minutes north on AZ-69, and American Legion Post 78 in Dewey-Humboldt is just 11 miles from Goswick Ranch.
Maryland is one of the few states that imposes both an estate tax and an inheritance tax. Arizona has neither. For estate planning purposes, Arizona is dramatically simpler for Mid-Atlantic buyers.
Numbers are estimates for general comparison. Consult a licensed real estate agent, tax advisor, and attorney before making any purchase decision.
Four seasons at 4,400–6,000 feet — spring wildflowers, summer in the 80s°F, fall oak color, winter clear and cold with the Milky Way overhead. No humidity. No Beltway. The nearest neighbor is not visible from your property line.
Horses and livestock permitted. Hundreds of miles of Prescott National Forest trail access. Wildlife is a daily companion: deer, elk, bears, eagles. The dark skies are Bortle Class 3–4 — something most DC residents haven't seen outside of a camping trip.
What daily life looks like at Goswick Ranch → Trails and outdoor recreation →
Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD), and BWI all have multiple daily nonstop flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) — approximately 4–4.5 hours. Philadelphia International (PHL) has multiple daily nonstop PHX flights (~4.5 hours). From PHX: 74 miles north, approximately 70 minutes via I-17 N and SR 69 E.
DC to Mayer is approximately 2,200 miles via I-81 South / I-40 West / I-17 South — typically a 3-day drive. Many buyers fly for the initial visit and plan the road trip for the actual move.
No. Arizona does not tax military retirement income. Maryland taxes it fully; Virginia offers partial exemptions. For military retirees, this is a meaningful annual savings. Veterans with 100% service-connected disability may qualify for a full Arizona property tax exemption.
Maryland's combined state and county income tax can reach 8.95%. DC's top rate is 10.75%. Arizona's rate is 2.5% flat. On $80,000 in retirement income, the difference between MD and AZ can be $4,000–$5,000/year.
No. Arizona has no estate tax. Maryland has both an estate tax and an inheritance tax. DC has an estate tax. For estate planning purposes, Arizona is dramatically simpler for Mid-Atlantic buyers.
Yes. No occupancy requirement. Seasonal, part-time, or investment use all permitted.
Lot details, HOA financials, CC&R summary.
Utilities, water, livestock rules, the honest day-to-day picture.
Trails, horses, National Forest access.
VA loan advantages and veteran property tax exemptions.
Questions or to arrange a visit.
Questions about the community, military benefits, or planning a visit — the Goswick Ranch Board of Directors provides direct, timely responses.