Del Rio Ranch or Alamar for a Family Needing More Space?

Is Del Rio Ranch or Alamar the better fit in Avondale for a family that needs more space, now that Mattamy Homes is building at Del Rio Ranch?

Neither community wins on square footage alone, because the new-build plans in both top out in a similar range. The decision comes down to timing and setting. Alamar has more new construction to choose from today, plus newer resale and a larger amenity package. Del Rio Ranch is an established community where D.R. Horton is selling now and Mattamy's 70 new homes, up to about 2,918 square feet, are expected to open in summer 2027.

When a family outgrows its house, the search usually starts with a number: one more bedroom, a bigger living room, a garage that fits more than the cars. That makes sense. Then the options start stacking up, and two Avondale communities a few miles apart can look almost identical on a builder website.

Here is what actually separates them. Del Rio Ranch and Alamar are both attainable master-planned communities served by the same school districts, so the real differences are what you can buy right now, how much room sits around the house, and whether you want an established neighborhood or a newer one still filling in. My goal is to lay those differences side by side so the choice fits the way your family actually lives.

Where Del Rio Ranch and Alamar Sit in Avondale

Del Rio Ranch and Alamar are both master-planned communities in Avondale, and both sit south of Interstate 10. Del Rio Ranch is an established community about two miles from I-10, and Alamar is a newer 1,150-acre master plan near Broadway Road and Avondale Boulevard, developed by Brookfield Residential.

That difference in age shows up the moment you drive in. Del Rio Ranch has finished streets, mature common areas, and resale homes from earlier phases alongside its newer sections. Alamar describes itself as a community built around trails, neighborhood parks, custom art installations, and a private resident pool, with an on-site elementary school, Lakin Prep Academy. If a daily commute into Phoenix is part of your decision, whether the Avondale commute to downtown Phoenix is worth it walks through that trade-off.

What Mattamy Homes Is Bringing to Del Rio Ranch

Mattamy Homes is building a 70-home neighborhood inside Del Rio Ranch in Avondale, and it is not selling yet. According to Mattamy's announcement, the neighborhood will offer six floor plans, five single-story and one two-story, from about 1,580 to 2,918 square feet, and it is anticipated to open in summer 2027.

Most Mattamy homes at Del Rio Ranch will have two-car garages, with select homes offering three-car garages, which matters for families whose "more space" includes vehicles, a workshop, or storage. Residents will share Del Rio Ranch's existing amenities, including a walking trail with exercise stations, a central park with basketball and volleyball courts, open green space, tot lots, and ramadas with barbecue areas.

If you need to move before 2027, Del Rio Ranch still has a new-build option today. D.R. Horton is currently selling at Del Rio Ranch with four floor plans from about 1,651 to 2,309 square feet and three to five bedrooms, in both single-story and two-story designs.

What You Can Buy at Alamar in Avondale Right Now

Alamar in Avondale gives a growing family more choice today than Del Rio Ranch does. Several builders are still selling new homes across Alamar's neighborhoods, and resale homes from the community's earlier phases, which began selling around 2020, come up as well.

That mix is the practical advantage. A family can compare several builders' floor plans in one master plan in the same afternoon, and some Alamar neighborhoods offer wider homesites than a typical production lot. A newer resale home can also skip the build timeline entirely while still feeling current. The trade-off is that Alamar is still filling in, so construction activity is part of daily life in some sections for a while. If you are weighing newer construction against an older home elsewhere in the West Valley, how new infill homes compare with older resale covers the maintenance side of that decision.

Del Rio Ranch vs. Alamar for a Family Needing More Space

For a family that needs more space in Avondale, Del Rio Ranch and Alamar compare closely on house size, so the useful comparison is everything around the square footage. This table lays out the differences that usually decide it.

As of September 2026. Sources: Mattamy Homes and D.R. Horton published community information; Brookfield Residential for Alamar. Plans and availability change.

This is usually where I slow families down, because "more space" means different things in different households. For some it is a fourth or fifth bedroom, for others a flex room that works as an office or playroom, and for others it is a bigger yard or a three-car garage. Write down which kind of space you need before you tour, and the right community often becomes obvious. On schools, Mattamy lists Collier Elementary and La Joya Community High School as the assigned schools for its Del Rio Ranch homes, while Alamar has Lakin Prep Academy on site. Confirm assignments for the exact address and review each school on the Arizona School Report Cards site.

How I Help Avondale Families Choose Between Del Rio Ranch and Alamar

When an Avondale family asks me to compare Del Rio Ranch and Alamar, I start with their move date. If you need to be in a larger home within the next year, the choice is between D.R. Horton at Del Rio Ranch, Alamar's current builders, and resale in both communities. If summer 2027 or later works, Mattamy's larger Del Rio Ranch plans, including select three-car garages, join the list.

From there, we tour with the space list in hand and compare total monthly cost, not just price, because HOA dues and property taxes differ from home to home. What I watch for here is a family choosing the bigger floor plan on a smaller lot when the yard was the real need, or the reverse. New construction also means the builder's own contract, so it helps to know what to compare in builder contracts, incentives, and warranties before you register at any sales office.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Mattamy Homes open at Del Rio Ranch in Avondale?
Mattamy's 70-home neighborhood at Del Rio Ranch is anticipated to open in summer 2027, with six plans from about 1,580 to 2,918 square feet.

Can I buy a new home at Del Rio Ranch right now?
Yes. D.R. Horton is currently selling at Del Rio Ranch with four floor plans from about 1,651 to 2,309 square feet and three to five bedrooms.

Is Alamar in Avondale still selling new homes?
Yes. Several builders are still selling across Alamar's neighborhoods, and resale homes from earlier phases also come up.

What school districts serve Del Rio Ranch and Alamar?
Both are served by the Littleton Elementary School District and Tolleson Union High School District. Confirm school assignments for the specific address before you buy.

Does Del Rio Ranch or Alamar have bigger homes?
New-build plans in both top out in a similar range. The larger differences are lot size, garage options, and whether you can buy now or wait until Mattamy opens.

The Bottom Line

Del Rio Ranch and Alamar are closer than they look on paper for a family that needs more space. They share school districts and a similar size range, so the deciding factors are timing, setting, and the kind of space you need. Alamar offers more choice today in a newer, still-growing community. Del Rio Ranch offers an established neighborhood with D.R. Horton selling now and Mattamy's larger plans arriving in 2027. Settle on what "more space" means for your family first, and the right fit usually follows.

I'm Kasandra Chavez, REALTOR® and Team Lead of the Chavez Dream Home Team with Real Broker, serving the West and Northwest Valley of Greater Phoenix, Arizona, and recognized among the top 5% of real estate professionals in the Greater Phoenix area. If your family is outgrowing your home and weighing Del Rio Ranch against Alamar, I'd love to help you compare them against your space list and timeline.