Sunset Valley

Sunset Valley is the neighborhood shipped with The Sims 3.

Overview
Sunset Valley is very large compared to the neighborhoods in previous The Sims games, having a total of 97 lots with various playable characters and about 85 in total pre-made. The main part of the town is the park, where Sims can have a picnic, go fishing, or take a stroll and maybe meet someone new; there are also cinemas, gyms, restaurants, shops, pools, and other recreational facilities. Sims can now visit all their friends' and neighbors' homes and call up their friends with the new cell phone, for a night on the town.

Sunset Valley mixes modern and futuristic building ideas with nostalgic architecture and design rooted in American suburbs of the 1950s. The town is very unique on all accounts and hosts a whopping 25 playable families. Sunset Valley is full of places to explore and has a very diverse cityscape, leaving players hours of fun while exploring alone.

The houses in Sunset Valley are diversely priced, but every little group of houses are generally similarly priced. For example, the homes by the public beach are generally cheap, making them homes for lower-middle class type Sims, although (if viewing the water as south), the further west you go the nicer they become, until they're more like upper-middle class type homes. Summerhill Court contains the largest, most expensive lots. The area directly behind city hall has some of the poorest houses, and behind that zone is a middle class area. Along the east side of Sunset Valley are some very nice homes, probably for upper-middle class Sims.

There are 21 available empty lots for players to build on. They are priced from §1200 at the cheapest, to §14,700 as the most expensive. The amount of space (in squares) for building goes from 19x29 at the smallest to 60x60 at the largest. The most expensive lot, 15 Summer Hill Court, is on the same hill as the Landgraabs' and Alto's mansions.

Community lots
Rabbit holes are not listed
 * 28 Hour Wellness Gym
 * Central Park
 * Crystal Springs
 * Le Petit Shark Pool Center
 * Lofty Cerulean Blue Pool
 * Maywood Glen
 * Old Pier Beach
 * Papyrus Memorial Library
 * Pinoche Pond
 * Pleasant Rest Graveyard
 * Recurve Strand
 * Stoney Falls
 * Summer Hill Springs
 * Sunnyside Strand
 * Sunset Institute of Modern Art

New families

 * Alto family 20 Summer Hill Court

''The Altos are new money. Their unscrupulous business practices have gotten them far in this town. Unofficially, they own most of the local shops. But how did their daughter become such a Goody Two-Shoes?''

§75,000

Difficulty: Medium

Nick Alto, Vita Alto, Holly Alto


 * Alvi family 43 Water Lily Lane

''Young Miraj Alvi wishes that his teen-age brother would stop giving their dad such a hard time. Is there some way he can help the two make amends?''

§600

Difficulty: Medium

VJ Alvi, Miraj Alvi, Iqbal Alvi


 * Andrews family 378 Skyborough Boulevard

''Beau Andrews is an insensitive slob who spends most of his time watching television. Victoria is an artistic bookworm who spends most of her time reading. How is it that these two seem to be living happily ever after?''

§1,400

Difficulty: Easy

Beau Andrews, Victoria Andrews


 * Bunch family 16 Maywood Lane

Here’s the story: Two working parents juggle family, household chores, and their careers while their four ''children run wild. What is the right balance for this family of six to stay sane? ''

§3,300

Difficulty: Hardest

Jack Bunch, Judy Bunch, Ethan Bunch, Lisa Bunch, Arlo Bunch, Darlene Bunch


 * Clavell family 306 Skyborough Boulevard

''Xander Clavell is a party animal still living in his parents’ house. Buster is tired of Xander’s mooching and wants him out. Will Bessie have to choose between her son and her husband?''

§2,800

Difficulty: Easy

Buster Clavell, Bessie Clavell, Xander Clavell


 * Frio family 7 Sun Song Avenue

''The Frio brothers are cool – but in very different ways. Connor is shy and seems aloof; Jared is downright cold to people after he befriends them. Can anything be done to change them into the next level of cool: awesome?''

§1,200

Difficulty: Easy

Connor Frio, Jared Frio


 * Hart family 303 Skyborough Boulevard

''Bebe Hart has a hard time as the only responsible person in the entire Hart lineage. It’s no secret in the neighborhood that both of her parents are slightly insane, so Bebe feels that the neighbor’s eyes have been scrutinizing her for ages, just waiting to see if she’ll crack too.''

§2,400

Difficulty: Medium

Gus Hart, Dorie Hart, Bebe Hart


 * Jolina family 91 Landgraab Avenue

''Jamie Jolina is as intelligent as she is beautiful. Can she prove to the world that the two traits can coexist?''

§1,000

Difficulty: Easiest

Jamie Jolina
 * Keaton family 86 Landgraab Avenue

''Avid outdoorsy Sims, Marty and Justine Keaton both have active careers and active hobbies. What effect will the impending arrival of their first child have on their lifestyle?''

§4,500

Difficulty: Easy

Marty Keaton, Justine Keaton


 * Kennedy family 67 Water Lily Lane

Erin Kennedy is a long-term military woman who was recently transferred to town. Making friends has always been difficult for her, and she worried that things might be the same in this town. Will her fears come true?

§1,300

Difficulty: Easiest

Erin Kennedy


 * Koffi family 433 Sunnyside Boulevard

''Gobias Koffi is a well-meaning single sim who just hasn’t met the right woman. Is this because he actually prefers the company of his male friends?''

§13,152

Difficulty: Easiest

Gobias Koffi


 * Roomies household 260 Sunnyside Boulevard

''Can five young adults from five different backgrounds really stand living together in a single house? Just about every personality is represented in this wacky household. . .but who is the exceedingly plain guy who doesn’t socialize with others? And how did he manage to get his own room?''

§28,297

Difficulty: Hard

Tamara Donner, Emma Hatch, Stiles McGraw, Cycl0n3 Sw0rd, Blair Wainwright


 * Sekemoto family 24 Sim Lane

Yumi Sekemoto has recently moved in with her son, Leighton, to help him raise his toddler, Sam.

§2,345

Difficulty: Medium

Yumi Sekemoto, Sam Sekemoto, Leighton Sekemoto


 * Single Moms household 330 Oak Grove Road

''Fiona McIrish is used to living alone with her teenage daughter, River. But when Fiona’s best friend needed a place to live with her own young daughter, Fiona readily invited the two to live in her home. Will Molly be the perfect housemate or Fiona’s biggest regret?''

§3,700

Difficulty: Hard

Fiona McIrish, River McIrish, Molly French, Sandi French


 * Steel family 373 Skyborough Boulevard

''Christopher Steel is lucky by nature. Things have always come easily for him, which is starting to get boring. Now that he’s in a brand new town with no friends or job, how will he fare?''

§1,000

Difficulty: Easiest

Christopher Steel


 * Ursine family 5 Sun Song Avenue

''Claire Ursine is a reclusive angler living by the ocean. Since she lives along, she is hopeful that no one will notice her unexpectedly changing waistline.''

§1,500

Difficulty: Easiest

Claire Ursine


 * Wainwright family 53 Maywood Lane

''Susan and Boyd are techno geniuses who spend all of their available time with electronics. When their daughter, Blair, was a child, they bought every toy she asked for in the hopes that she would amuse herself and give them more free time for their hobbies. Now that Blair has moved out on her own, the Wainwrights are thinking of converting her old room for their next big project. . .''

§2,900

Difficulty: Easy

Susan Wainwright, Boyd Wainwright


 * Wan-Goddard family 1 Sun Song Avenue

''Pauline and Hank are certain that they will be 2-gether 4-ever because they have so much in common: parties, the beach, and music. The only question is whether they can maintain their lifestyle.''

§2,100

Difficulty: Easy

Pauline Wan, Hank Goddard


 * Wolff family 500 Sunnyside Boulevard

''Both the arts and having children are very important to Morgana Wolff, but she has just learned that her new husband, Thornton, actively dislikes both. Oops. Can these newlyweds save their young marriage? Should they even try?''

§25,000

Difficulty: Easy

Thornton Wolff, Morgana Wolff


 * Working Friends household 270 Sunnyside Boulevard

''Four women trying to make their way in the world have come together to share this house. Madison and Monica are best friends forever, Tori is a best-friend wannabe, and Ayesha is the tomboy who couldn’t care less.''

§2,850

Difficulty: Medium

Madison VanWatson, Monika Morris, Tori Kimura, Ayesha Ansari

Returning families

 * Bachelor family 12 Sim Lane

''The Bachelors are a tightly knit family and Simis see to it that everything – and everyone – is in its place. Now if only the other neighborhood kids were as well behaved as his Michael and Bella.''

§3,100

Difficulty: Medium

Simis Bachelor, Jocasta Bachelor, Michael Bachelor, Bella Bachelor
 * Crumplebottom family 230 Redwood Parkway

''Agnes Crumplebottom hadn’t even changed her last name to her husband’s when an unfortunate accident on her honeymoon ended their marriage. Between her growing bitterness and her husband’s ghost scaring away gentlemen callers, only the bravest Sim would ever even try to win her heart and fortune now.''

§20,000

Difficulty: Easiest

Agnes Crumplebottom


 * Goth family 13 Skyborough Boulevard

''The Goths have lived in town since time immemorial. The aura of gloom from the nearby cemetery suits them, but can a young boy named Mortimer grow up to be well-adjusted in such a place?''

§50,000

Difficulty: Medium

Gunther Goth, Cornelia Goth, Mortimer Goth


 * Landgraab family 10 Summer Hill Court

''The Landgraabs are old money. Nancy’s family more or less founded the town, so it was no surprise that when she married Geoffrey, it was Geoffrey who changed his last name, not Nancy. Will young Malcom be a mild-mannered doctor like his father or a voracious business tycoon like his mother?''

§75,000

Difficulty: Medium

Geoffrey Landgraab, Nancy Landgraab, Malcolm Landgraab


 * Langerak family 14 Sierra Tango Street

''Kaylynn Langerak cleans up after her brother and stay-at-home dad while her mother works all day. Now Kaylynn’s Aunt Zelda has arrived with a jungle of half-dead plants in tow and things are messier than ever!''

§3,400

Difficulty: Hard

Kaylynn Langerak, Zelda Mae, Dustin Langerak, Parker Langerak, Iliana Langerak

Families in the Family bin

 * Baker Family

''Svetlana and Heathcliff love their daughter Becky, so of course they took her in when she and her son Topher needed a place to stay. But will they be able to enjoy their retirement with a noisy toddler in the house?''

§20,500

Difficulty: Hard

Svetlana Baker, Heathcliff Baker, Becky Baker, Topher Baker


 * Funke family

''Some might say Sabrina and Rhett Funke are too flaky to be successful at raising kids. Will their three talented tots turn out ok in the end, or will they let the pressure get to them?''

§20,500

Difficulty: Hardest

Rhett Funke, Sabrina Funke, Spencer Funke, Irene Funke, Carol Funke


 * Glover household

''Roommates Gwen and Holden are an odd pair: she’s artsy and outgoing; he’s spacey and bookish. Will they be just good friends, or something more?''

§20,000

Difficulty: Easy

Gwen Glover, Holden Wonzy


 * Lum family

''Lawrence Lum is a bright, friendly teen with outgoing parents. Will he take after his computer whiz father or social climbing mother?''

§20,625

Difficulty: Medium

Lawrence Lum, Theodore Lum, Lily Lum


 * Martinez family

''Lovebirds Pablo and Jennifer Martinez are outdoorsy folk looking to explore nature. Will they thrive in a new town, or will the suburban lifestyle eventually drive them to tears?''

§20,000

Difficulty: Easy

Pablo Martinez, Jennifer Martinez


 * Williams family

''Aimee Williams is a marvel in the kitchen, but her husband Marley is a bit of a dreamer. Will he be able to support the two of them and little Malika, or will Aimee have to use her skills to earn some dough?''

§20,125

Difficulty: Medium

Aimee Williams, Malika Williams, Marley Williams

Homeless Sims
These Sims are pre-made, but homeless when Sunset Valley is first loaded


 * Anne Song
 * Sunny Bakshi
 * Abraham Finkel
 * Ian Bowler
 * Artie Page
 * Dave Ramsey


 * Gage Briody
 * Dorothy DeMayo
 * Narcissa Vatos
 * Sue Scotch
 * Milton Tong

NPCs

 * Cora Francisco (Paper Delivery Girl)
 * Skip Javeed (Paper Delivery Boy)
 * Candy Ashleydale (Babysitter)
 * Davy Linell (Babysitter)
 * Kate Pistachio (Maid)
 * Grady Elfman (Maid)
 * Twyla Summers (Burglar)
 * Robbie Bland (Burglar)
 * Tia Rose (Police Officer)
 * Eugene Hunter (Police Officer)
 * Lillian Gore (Firefighter)
 * Adam Andreasen (Firefighter)
 * Alessandra Thistle (Social Worker)
 * Linda Duran (Social Worker)


 * Jake Roland (Social Worker)
 * Casper Santos (Social Worker)
 * Tuesday Sears (Repairwoman)
 * Clark Sauer (Repairman)
 * Alma Tanti (Mailwoman)
 * Lane Clementson (Mailman)
 * Amanda Gerstein (Repo-man|Repo-woman)
 * Alan Watanabe (Repo-man)
 * Autumn Cusack (Pizza Delivery Woman)
 * Torgo Pendragon (Pizza Delivery Man)
 * Jane March (Science Geek)
 * Nate Morita (Science Geek)
 * Willow Hennessy (Magician)
 * Edward Poley (Magician)

Deceased Sims

 * Anabelle Oinkslopes
 * Basil Flores
 * Big Steve Underwood
 * Charity McNichol
 * Chester Landgraab
 * Cornelius Nelson
 * Enola Green
 * Enriqueta Bachelor
 * Erdrick Gnomeheim
 * Erik Darling
 * Gaylord Koffi
 * Gertrude Flansburgh
 * Gretle Goth
 * Jennie Clavell
 * Joel Astroman


 * Kermit Landgraab
 * Kitty Landgraab
 * Lewis Su
 * Lolita Goth
 * Milton Bachelor
 * Nida Khan
 * Opal Suarley
 * Prudence Crumplebottom
 * Queenie Landgraab
 * Ransom Clavell
 * Simon Crumplebottom
 * Tragic Clown
 * Victor Goth
 * Vincent Skullfinder

Mobile version
In the mobile version, the neighborhood is mostly the same except all new families.

Trivia

 * The abandoned mine can be found a bit close from Pinochle Point and it has glowing yellowish eyes peeking out of it neither in the day or night.
 * Many players believe that Sunset Valley is Pleasantview several decades before The Sims, where it is called Old Town. Others believe it cannot be as Gunther Goth, the founder of Pleasantview, would have been too young. Sunset Valley is set 50 years before The Sims 2 and 25 years before The Sims. Also, some believe that Sunset Valley is set on the West Coast because of the way the sun sets and rises.
 * In EA's Burnout Paradise, an area is also named Sunset Valley which may have given its name.
 * As the Sunset Valley description states, there seems to be a rivalry between the Landgraabs and the Altos. Meanwhile, the Goths are living elsewhere in town and seem to have nothing to do with it.

Gallery
Sunset Valley