Desert Passage / Smith Farms Real Estate in Maricopa, AZ

Updated June 2026

Desert Passage, locally known as Smith Farms, is an amenity-rich community in southeast Maricopa, AZ, in zip code 85138, between Bowlin Road and White and Parker Road. Built by KB Home from the mid-2000s onward, it has its own heated community pool plus courts, ball fields, playgrounds, and trails, and sits next to Central Arizona College, Banner Health, and the City Hall area. Homes run about 1,100 to 3,400 square feet, two to five bedrooms; the HOA is billed monthly; call for current dues. Amenity list, lot counts, and school assignments are in the Smith Farms guide.

Desert Passage, which most locals call Smith Farms, is one of the more complete neighborhoods in Maricopa: it pairs a real community pool and a full set of recreation amenities with a location next to the city's growing civic and education core. If you want amenities without a resort-level association and you value being close to college, medical, and city services, this is one of the first 85138 communities to consider. Buyers who want a smaller, all-single-story resale community in central 85138 also look at Copper Ridge real estate near Smith-Enke and Porter.

This page is the honest guide. What the community is, where it sits, what it offers, and how to buy or sell here.

If you want to skip the article and talk to a Maricopa specialist, call 520-838-8037.

What is Desert Passage / Smith Farms in Maricopa, AZ?

Desert Passage is a large 85138 community of detached single-family homes in southeast Maricopa, with over 700 homes and some sections still being finished out. It was built primarily by KB Home in phases from the mid-2000s through recent years, so it feels established yet still growing. Homes run from about 1,100 to 3,400 square feet, one and two-story, two to five bedrooms. Call 520-838-8037.

The plan runs 706 lots. Inside the community, Juniper at Desert Passage is an interior enclave tucked within Smith Farms Circle, worth knowing by name because listings there are sometimes marketed separately.

The InMaricopa HOA directory lists the community as "Desert Passage (aka Smith Farms)": 706 lots, all built, no active builder. The interior of Smith Farms Circle is an enclave called Juniper at Desert Passage.

Where is Desert Passage, and what is nearby?

Desert Passage sits in southeast Maricopa within 85138, between Bowlin Road and White and Parker Road, with entrances on Smith Farms Circle and Lococo Street. Its location is a real advantage: it is next to the part of Maricopa where the city is investing, with Central Arizona College's Maricopa campus, Banner Health, the City Hall area, the Maricopa Public Library, and Legacy Traditional School all close by, plus Walmart and the Wells retail area just down the road.

Does Desert Passage have a community pool?

Yes, and that sets it apart. Many Maricopa subdivisions have no community pool at all. Desert Passage has its own heated community pool with a spa and cabana, and the amenity package goes well beyond that: tennis and sport courts, a soccer field and a ball field, multiple playgrounds, and greenbelt walking and biking trails. For buyers who want recreation built into the neighborhood rather than a drive away, this is one of the stronger options in 85138.

Beyond the pool, the recreation package includes a basketball court, open sports fields, and a baseball and softball field, a combination few Maricopa communities match.

Yes, and that puts it in a short list. Many Maricopa subdivisions have no on-site pool: Sorrento has a splash pad only, and Alterra, Palo Brea, Maricopa Meadows, and Senita have none. The Maricopa communities with a real community pool are Smith Farms, Cobblestone Farms (pool plus sports field), Glennwilde Groves (two heated pools and a stocked fishing lake), The Villages at Rancho El Dorado (two pools), and Province (55-plus). Buyers comparing amenity packages usually shop those five against each other.

What are homes like in Desert Passage / Smith Farms?

Because Desert Passage was built in phases by KB Home over many years, the homes span a range of sizes and eras within one community. Plans range from compact two- and three-bedroom homes around 1,100 square feet to larger four- and five-bedroom homes over 3,000 square feet, one- and two-story. That spread makes it workable for both a first purchase and a move-up to more space without leaving the neighborhood or its amenities.

Which schools serve Desert Passage/Smith Farms?

Desert Passage is in the Maricopa Unified School District, generally served by Saddleback Elementary, Desert Wind Middle School, and Maricopa High School, with some streets assigned to Desert Sunrise High School. The Governing Board approved new attendance boundaries on December 10, 2025, effective for the 2026-2027 school year, so the assignment depends on your specific street. Call MUSD at 520-568-5100 or contact us, and we will check the address you are considering.

MUSD assignment is by address through the School Finder at musd20.org. Campuses serving the area as of publication: Saddleback Elementary (PK-6) at 18600 N Porter Rd; Desert Wind Middle School (6-8) at 35565 W Honeycutt Rd or Maricopa Wells Middle School (6-8) at 45725 W Honeycutt Ave, depending on boundary; and Maricopa High School (45012 W Honeycutt Ave) or Desert Sunrise High School (16200 N Murphy Rd) for grades 9-12. Charter options nearby include Heritage Academy Maricopa (6-12), Legacy Traditional School (K-10), and Leading Edge Academy (K-8). Confirm the 2026-2027 assignment for a specific address.

What is the HOA in Desert Passage / Smith Farms?

Desert Passage has a community HOA, managed by RCP and billed monthly; dues fund the pool, courts, ball fields, playgrounds, and trail network. As with any HOA, dues and the management company can change over time, so confirm the live numbers and the current management contact before you write. We never publish a dues figure that can go stale; call us for the current amount.

The association is managed by Trestle Management Group and billed monthly. Call 520-838-8037 for the current dues figure.

Dues are billed monthly and managed by Trestle Management Group, 480-422-0888. Dues cover common-area landscaping, walking and biking paths, playgrounds, BBQ areas, the community pool, the basketball court, the sports fields, and the baseball/softball field. Verify current dues with Trestle before contract.

How do you buy a home in Desert Passage / Smith Farms?

Most buying here is resale, with the occasional newer build in the most recent sections. Because the amenities and the location draw steady demand, the better-priced homes move, so it helps to watch the market closely. Have a buyer's agent who knows the amenity communities set up alerts and tour quickly, including Spanish-speaking representation with David Ruiz.

How do you sell a home in Desert Passage / Smith Farms?

Selling here is about leading with what buyers are actually paying for: the pool, recreation amenities, and the location next to college, medical, and city services. Price it against recent Desert Passage and Smith Farms sales, present it well, and make the amenity and civic-core advantages obvious. Request a comp set from a listing specialist who markets community amenities or call 520-838-8037.

Why work with a Maricopa specialist in Desert Passage?

An amenity community next to a fast-changing civic core is priced differently from a plain subdivision, and that takes local knowledge, not a metro-wide average.

The James Sanson Team has been Maricopa-focused since 2004. 24+ years in real estate, 1,300+ closed sales, 250+ five-star Zillow reviews, FastExpert 2026 Top Agent, and Zillow Showcase Partner status. James handles all listings personally. David Hoos and David Ruiz handle buyer-side work, with David Ruiz available for Spanish-speaking clients. Visit our Maricopa team page for credentials and bios.

Ready to talk?

If you are buying or selling in Desert Passage or Smith Farms, call 520-838-8037. We will answer the phone, pull a real comp set, and tell you what we would do in your situation.

You can also use the form on this page. We respond within an hour during business hours.

Nearby Maricopa communities to compare

Desert Passage sits in southeast Maricopa. If you are comparing nearby neighborhoods, look at the Glennwilde neighborhood, Senita homes, and Cobblestone Farms in 85139. You can also open the Maricopa neighborhoods hub, or call 520-838-8037 to talk it through.