Most people who find Goswick Ranch weren't looking for Arizona. They were looking for a way out of a cost structure that stopped making sense after the kids were grown and the mortgage was paid off.
If you've spent your life in or around New York — and you've done the math on property taxes, state income tax, and what another twenty years of maintenance fees looks like — you already know what we're about to say.
Goswick Ranch is a private gated community in the Bradshaw Mountains of central Arizona. It is not a resort. There is no golf course, no clubhouse, no lifestyle director. There are 25–35 private lots with a 9-acre minimum, horses and livestock permitted, a gated private road, and a volunteer board of property owners who manage the association themselves.
The HOA fee is $216 a year.
You can live here full-time, part-time, or hold the property as an investment. There is no occupancy requirement. That's not for everyone. For some people, it's exactly enough.
Goswick Ranch is a private, gated subdivision on E Poland Road in Mayer, Arizona — 74 miles north of Phoenix, 27 miles from Prescott. The community sits at 4,400–6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains, on land that was originally a working cattle ranch.
| Location | E Poland Road, Mayer, AZ 86333 |
| Elevation | 4,400–6,000 ft |
| Lot minimum | 9 acres (CC&R covenant; county minimum is 2 acres) |
| Number of lots | Approximately 25–35 |
| HOA fee | $216/year |
| Gate | Gated; private road network |
| Management | Self-managed by volunteer board — no management company |
| Allowed | Horses, cattle, livestock, site-built homes (1,500 sq ft min) |
The community borders Prescott National Forest, with hundreds of miles of equestrian and hiking trails accessible from the Poland Road corridor.
See the full buyer's guide including lot details and pricing →
These are estimates for general comparison. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.
| Item | New York / New Jersey | Goswick Ranch / Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Annual property taxes | NJ median ~$9,000/yr; NYC co-op maintenance often $12,000–$36,000/yr | ~$476/yr median |
| Annual HOA or maintenance | NJ/NYC HOAs: often $3,600–$18,000/yr | $216/year |
| State income tax | NY: up to 10.9%; NJ: up to 10.75%; CT: up to 6.99% | 2.5% flat |
| Estate tax | NY estate tax applies above $7.16M (with cliff provision) | No Arizona estate tax |
| Social Security taxation | Taxed at state level in some configurations | Not taxed in Arizona |
Numbers are estimates for general comparison. Consult a licensed real estate agent, tax advisor, and attorney before making any purchase decision.
There is no rule at Goswick Ranch that requires you to live here full-time. Owners may use the property seasonally, part-time, or hold it purely as an investment.
Some buyers purchase land and build on it later, using the parcel as a future retirement base while maintaining their Northeast residence. Some come out for a portion of the year. Some purchase as an appreciating land investment in a corridor that Yavapai County planning documents identify as a growth area.
All of these are valid uses. The $216/year HOA applies to all of them.
The 9-acre minimum lot size is not a county standard — it's a community covenant set in the CC&Rs, well above Yavapai County's 2-acre baseline. On a 9-acre lot in the Bradshaws, your nearest neighbor is not visible from your property line. The gate is on Poland Road. The noise is wildlife.
Property taxes on most parcels run under $500 a year. Some vacant land parcels have carried annual property taxes as low as $5.
Goswick Ranch is not the Arizona of Phoenix postcards. At 4,400–6,000 feet, the climate has genuine seasons. Spring brings wildflowers. Summer peaks in the 80s°F while Phoenix sits at 110°F+. Fall turns the oaks and cottonwoods. Winter is 40s–50s°F days with occasional snow and the Milky Way overhead — Bortle Class 3–4 dark skies.
If you know what New England autumn looks like, the Bradshaw fall is its own version of that.
The gate is 1.5 miles from AZ Route 69. The nearest full-service hospital is Prescott Valley — about 20 minutes. Your water comes from a private well; we recommend testing every 5 years for arsenic and mining-related metals (this is standard in the region). There's no natural gas line — propane is standard. Amazon delivers to Mayer.
If those are dealbreakers, this isn't the right community for you — and we'd rather tell you now. If you've spent your career navigating New York City and you're looking for something that requires a little more self-sufficiency in exchange for a lot more space, read on.
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is 74 miles from Goswick Ranch — approximately a 70-minute drive north via I-17 and SR 69. Nonstop flights from JFK and Newark (EWR) to Phoenix run approximately 5–5.5 hours. From the airport: take I-17 North to Exit 262 (SR 69 East), then approximately 12 miles to Mayer.
From the New York area, approximately 2,400 miles — typically a 3–4 day trip via I-78 W / I-76 W to I-70 W through St. Louis, then I-44 W to I-40 W through Albuquerque, then I-17 S to SR 69. Many buyers make this as a scouting trip.
Prescott, AZ (27 miles from the ranch) has solid lodging options and a walkable historic downtown. It makes a good base for exploring the area over a long weekend.
Contact the board to ask questions or coordinate access to the community before you make the trip.
Arizona has a 2.5% flat state income tax vs. New York's up to 10.9%. Median property taxes at Goswick Ranch are approximately $476/year vs. New Jersey's median of ~$9,000/year. Arizona has no estate tax and does not tax Social Security income. For retirees on fixed income, the difference is significant over a 10–20 year retirement horizon. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.
Yes. Goswick Ranch has no full-time occupancy requirement. Owners may live here part-time, seasonally, or hold the property as an investment. There are no penalties for part-time use.
The annual HOA assessment at Goswick Ranch is $216 per year ($18/month). This covers maintenance of the private internal road network and common association expenses. There is no management company — the HOA is self-managed by a volunteer board of property owners.
Goswick Ranch in Mayer, Arizona is approximately 2,400 miles from New York City. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is 74 miles from the community — a 70-minute drive — and offers nonstop flights from JFK and Newark (EWR) to Phoenix (PHX) in approximately 5–5.5 hours.
Goswick Ranch requires a minimum lot size of 9 acres under its CC&Rs — far above Yavapai County's 2-acre baseline. This 9-acre minimum ensures genuine privacy and space between neighbors. Most parcels range from 9–38 acres.
HOA financials, what the CC&Rs allow, and everything a buyer needs before making an offer.
The honest day-to-day picture: utilities, wildlife, seasons, what you can do with the land.
Trails, horses, National Forest access, and what the Bradshaw Mountains offer.
The history of Goswick Ranch — it goes back further than most people expect.
Questions about the community, availability, or planning a visit.
CC&Rs and governing documents available to prospective buyers.
Whether you have questions about the community, want to understand the CC&Rs, or are ready to plan a visit, the Goswick Ranch Board of Directors provides direct, timely responses.