Vail, Arizona a sleepy small suburb of Tucson is growing fast due to its master-planned community of Rancho Del Lago. Look for Vail to grow exponentially in years to come as Rancho Del Lago brings residents and businesses alike to the area.

Homes for sale in the Rancho Del Lago neighborhood for many in Tucson represent an affordable, classy, and somewhat sophisticated “Off the main drag”, place to call home. Located in Vail Arizona what most would call a suburb of Tucson, Rancho Del Lago offers newer (new homes are still available) homes, great prices, as well as a championship golf course always in near perfect condition.

-As a side note-
I used to play a lot of golf (and I mean a lot of golf, like every single day for about 3 years I was on a golf course playing/ practicing) and Rancho Del Lago is one of my favorite courses for under $50/ round, now during the winter the price goes up but it’s still one of the best values in the Tucson area.

The Homes in Rancho Del Lago For Sale-

Homes in Rancho Del Lago vary and homes for sale are always available. Price ranges generally start currently in the $150k’s and go up from their to a max out point of about the low $400k’s. On the starter home end of the range you can expect a clean, nice 3 bed, (sometimes 4) 2 bath, single story home with a tile roof, recently built, with 1,300sf and 1,500sf of space. One the higher end of the price range you can expect a well done 2,500sf up to 3,500sf home with, 3 car garage and possibly (probably) luxury features such as granite, extensive tile, pool, and high ceilings. Foreclosure homes and properties within the Rancho Del Lago neighborhood are also available and those homes can generally be purchased for a price 10%-15% below the price point where traditional sales sell for. The entire Rancho Del Lago area was originally developed and continues to be developed for a slightly higher end buyer who wants to be away from the busy city life yet still close enough to enjoy the benefits of living near by. On that level without a doubt the Rancho Del Lago neighborhood has and continues to succeed.

-Vail, Arizona-

Vail Arizona is located roughly 20 minutes (by freeway) from Downtown Tucson and is one of the fastest growing and in the future (15-20 years) will be one of southern Arizona’s next boom towns/ cities where people flock to. Vail is still somewhat underdeveloped which some people prefer however as time goes on the area will grow exponentially as major employment, shopping, and amenities sit adjacent to it in SE Tucson along the Houghton corridor. The Rancho Del Lago neighborhood really put Vail, Arizona on the map and is driving the entire areas real estate development.

If you would like help finding or selling a home within Rancho Del Lago feel free to contact me as I have experience selling homes within the neighborhood. All emails/ phone calls are returned generally within the hour or end of the day at most.

This Sam Hughes home shows some of the detail and character that was built into the neighborhood in the 1920's and 30's when most of the area was developed.

The historic Sam Hughes neighborhood dates back to the early 1920s and is recognized as one of

Tucson’s more stable central-city residential areas. As is has remained a sought after Tucson district to live within due to is proximity to the University of Arizona as well as downtown Tucson. The neighborhood, named after the Sam

Hughes Elementary School, is located in the mile-square area bounded by Campbell on the

west, Speedway on the north, Country Club on the east, and Broadway on the south.

In 1980, there were approximately 4,391 residents in its 2,120

households; 16 percent under age 18, 45 percent between 19 and 44, and 39 percent age 45

and over. From information obtained from the residents through a neighborhood association

questionnaire, the neighborhood has a stable residential population with the average person

having lived in Tucson over 22 years and in this neighborhood over 14 years. It’s safe to say once residents buy a home within the well known Sam Hughes area they tend to hold onto it as quality properties are rarely on the market within Sam Hughes and when they do hit it they sell generally quickly.

The residents of the Sam Hughes neighborhood feel the neighborhood is unique because of its

central location, proximity to the University of Arizona, Himmel Park Library, senior citizen

activity center, and excellent elementary school, and a variety of shops and services. The

neighborhood, which is bounded by four major streets, is known for its bike routes, recreational

facilities, pleasant areas for walking and jogging, and generally quiet, settled environment.

While there is little undeveloped land in the neighborhood, the pressures of an expanding

Tucson have been strongly felt (see Maps 1 and 2). The expanding business districts along

Speedway and Broadway and at the intersection of Tucson Boulevard and Sixth Street,

coupled with the increased demand for multi-family dwellings, have caused concerned

neighbors to joint together in an effort to protect this area. The Sam Hughes Neighborhood

Association was formed in 1971.

Homes for sale in Sam Hughes vary depending upon a lot of factors. In general the homes are much more expensive within the Sam Hughes neighborhood as the name, location, and history of the district brings buyers willing to pay a premium to be a part of it. Sam Hughes homes start in the mid $200,000’s for a nice but dated 1,300sf-1,500sf home. Most of the homes for sale in the Sam Hughes district are priced in the $300k-$500k price range offering 1,600sf-2,500sf. The more updated the property the higher the dollar per square foot as newly updated homes within Sam Hughes are in tight supply and high demand.

Every once in a while a $1M plus estate home will come on the market within Sam Hughes but in general that’s rare and the actual subdivision those are located within is University Manor.

If you are in search of a Sam Hughes home for sale and would like assistance/ have questions about the neighborhood/ homes within it, or would like to sell your Sam Hughes home and would like to get an accurate assessment of what it should sell for in the marketplace feel free to email/ call and I will be glad to assist you.

The Sam Hughes House within the El Presidio Neighborhood in downtown Tucson. A different neighborhood The "Sam Hughes" neighborhood near the University would be named after him years later

Historic Tucson Homes For Sale are always some of the most demanded segments of Tucson Real Estate. Why? Simply put buyers cannot beat the locations, charm, character, and craftsmanship of the Tucson homes built previous to the 1950’s. In Tucson some homes such as those within “El Presidio” neighborhood date to the mid to late 1800’s the adobe style and downtown location those homes offer for some buyers is impossible to not be a part of.

Other acclaimed Tucson historic neighborhoods such as El Encanto, Sam Hughes Neighborhood, and Catalina Vista each offering its own common style of home unique to its own neighborhood.

See Historic Tucson Homes Currently For Sale

Whats the most important thing to understand about buying a Tucson historic home/neighborhood?

The neighborhood is everything the more famous the higher the prices and the more constant the demand is for it. Take a classic example of the historic El Encanto and its sister neighborhood of Colonia Solana across the street (across Broadway/Colonia Solana is south of Broadway and El Encanto in North) The same size and features home in El Encanto sells for anywhere from 10%-15% more then a home of like quality and amenities within Colonia Solana. Why? The name and reputation of the neighborhood. Everyone in Tucson knows El Encanto was Tucson first “Luxury Housing development” business leaders and other notable Tucson residents built homes within El Encanto as a status symbol to their wealth and status. The same sort of thing happened across the street yet it’s El Encanto that remains the “old money neighborhood of Tucson” not Colonia Solana.

If you would like help finding or learning more about historic homes available in Tucson for sale or would like to look into putting your historic Tucson home on the market call/email me and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.

This is true of many of other historic neighborhood in Tucson. The best known neighborhood sell for a premium mostly because the neighborhood is known to anyone in Tucson as a highly coveted and historic one. Sam Hughes is another perfect example tell anyone you own a home in Sam Hughes and they know what you are talking about and are probably impressed. Tell them you own a home in Blenman-Elm and while some may know it you are not going to get the same response “Sam Hughes Neighborhood” carries with it even though the home types and locations are not all that different.

As a word of advice I always suggest to clients if they can afford the better name/ more well known neighborhood it is absolutely worth the premium you pay to live within it.

WHY?

To me it’s very simple as Tucson continues to grow there is only so much room (about none) for new housing in Central Tucson and even less within the historic neighborhoods. This being the case it’s a simple supply and demand situation. Only about 150 homes are in El Encanto and its reputation is probably never going to make it less demanded only more-so with that being the case owning one of the 145 homes available is a better spot to be in then owning one of how ever many homes are within its sister neighborhood of Colonia Solana. The fact I know exactly how many homes were built in El Encanto yet don’t know the number for Colonia Solana should be a testimonial to the weight these historic neighborhoods can carry.

As one more word of advice if you cannot find a home of the same quality and amenities as one available in another historic yet maybe lesser known historic Tucson neighborhoods do not pass over the other property a “brand name neighborhood” will only get you so far and the home itself is the most important part of the transaction not just the neighborhood. Yet if two homes are alike and both equal with exception of a slightly higher price for the better known Tucson neighborhood it is almost always the wise choice to take the better known higher profile neighborhood over the lesser known even considering a higher price for the name as it carries weight in Tucson and is worth the premium.

Some of Tucson’s most notable (famous) historic homes:

This The Steinfeld Mansion This affluent Tucson Mansion was built in 1900 in the Spanish Mission-style out of brick stucco. In 1904 it was purchased by Albert and Bettina Steinfeld. The Steinfeld House was the first Tucson home to have a bathtub with running water, thus starting the fall of public bathhouses.

The J. Knox Corbet Historic Tucson home was built in 1907 and is built in a California Mission Style. J. Knox Corbett came to Tucson in 1880. He made some good investments in stage lines and ranches which then helped him become successful in a lumber business he started in 1892. He was Mayor of Tucson from 1914-17 and started the form of city government that Tucson still uses today.

Found at the corner of Main Ave and Franklin. The Rosalia Verdugo House was built in 1877 in the adobe Sonoran tradition with 24 inch walls.

Homes near Sabino Canyon are always in demand in Tucson as the area is one its most prestigious

Homes for sale near Sabino Canyon are always highly coveted as the area is pristine and some of Tucson highest end properties/ estates/ homes for sale reside in the immediate area. Depending upon your wants and budget homes are available starting currently in the mid $200k’s and escalating up into the multi-millions for a true luxury estate on acreage.  For buyers specifically first time buyers that would like to live in the area fix-up homes, and foreclosures start a little lower and price and maybe a great option as the Sabino Canyon area is always a prized location to own a home within. Condos also currently relatively inexpensive starting in some cases in the low to mid $100k price range and for many first time buyers/ young professions may make the most sense as they provide an opportunity to own a place and receive those benefits while not having to spend time and energy on the other homeowner issues such as maintance and upkeep. Condos near Sabino Canyon are also very popular with winter home owners as they provide the perfect price and location for those seeking a Tucson winter/ early retirement home/ condo in a premier location with top notch amenities and views.

So what should you look for when looking to buy a home or condo nearby Sabino Canyon on Tucson’s northeast side? For many the area is about premier views so buyers should look to find properties that capitalize on the views of the mountains nearby. Since townhomes and condos are very popular with early retirees and winter visitors during the winter finding a property that is newer is age is generally a better way to go as some of the older townhome developments and condo buildings have an older 1980’s Tucson feel to them which is somewhat different then what is being developed in today’s Tucson where we see more contemporary residential developments and less (or no) slump block, low ceilings, and cut up floor plans as was developed in a majority of the older townhome and condo developments near Sabino Canyon 30 years ago. Those newer developed developments seem to sell much faster and for higher dollar per square foot as the demand for them is pretty high and most buyers who own them are happy they purchased those instead of the older stock with I have seen hit and have to be reduced more as buyers today’s buyers seem to want the newer properties and amenities.

Which neighborhoods are the most popular in the Sabino Canyon area?

Well depending upon price point several options exist for buyers wanting to make a home purchase close by Sabino Canyon of Tucson northeast side.  I will break the top picks down by price range as these seem to be the most popular by buyers and where the homes seem to sell the fastest.

-          $200k and under

Coronado Place Condo

Bear Canyon Hills

Telesis Estates

Cresta Verde

-          $200k to $500k

Forty Niners Country Club Estates

-          $500k to $750k

Sunrise Ranch

La Cebadilla Estates

Colonia Tierra Verde

Lakes At Castle Rock

Madera Mesa Estates

-          $750k and above

La Cebadilla Estates

Milagrosa Hills

Estrella Vista Estates

Telesis Estates

Redington Ranch

Regardless of price range or what type of home a buyer wants they can find it near The University Of Arizona

If you are searching/ looking to buy a home, condo, or townhome near the University of Arizona there are plenty of options available for you. All home-styles and price ranges are available within a close proximity to the University Of Arizona regardless if you happen to be a first time buyer or looking for your next million dollar estate both and everything in between will be an option. If you happen to be a student looking to attend the U of A programs are even available for you and your parents to help you be able to buy a home instead of having to pay rent this program is called an FHA Kiddie Condo and is very popular as most homes can be bought for less then what a student would pay in rent while attending the University of Arizona. With this introduction here are some lists of Tucson neighborhoods and homes close by (near) the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.

Most Popular neighborhoods close to the University of Arizona-

1.) Sam Hughes Neighborhood- Sam Hughes was one of the most popular and influential individuals of the 1800’s in Tucson. In 1928, 11 years after his death, the new elementary school in one of Tucson’s first subdivisions was named after Sam Hughes. The Sam Hughes Neighborhood takes its name from the school that sits squarely in the middle of the original quadrant. We are now one square mile, bounded by Speedway, Broadway, Country Club and Campbell. Prices in this historic district start in the low $200k’s currently and escalate into the mid to high $600k+ price range.

2.) El Encanto Estates- El Encanto originally developed for Tucson business leaders by a leading Tucson Realtor in the 1920’s is Central Tucson’s most prestigious neighborhood. Homes here are highly coveted for their prestige and their “old money” look. Generally speaking these homes currently start in the $700k’s and can go up to the $1M+ range as some of  Tucson’s most grand estate reside within this relatively small neighborhood.

3.) Armory Park Del Sol- Armory Park Del Sol is the new version of the historic Armory park neighborhood. Both the new and old sections of Armory park command high premiums for the location and name as it is one of the premier Central Tucson neighborhoods and the name alone brings buyers to it. Homes in Armory Park Del Sol start in the low $400k’s and go up from there depending upon the size.

Top Condo Complexes Near The University Of Arizona (U of A)-

1.) Sam Hughes Place at The Corner

2.) Feldmans Amended Condos

3.) Ice House Lofts

4.) Euclid Point Condos

5.) Casa Club Condos

Best First Time Buyer Neighborhoods Near The (U of A) University Of Arizona-

1.) Palo Verde Amended

2.) Coronado Heights

3.) Alta Vista

4.) Feldmans Addition

5.) Tucson

Best Mid-Priced Neighborhood (Move-up) Close By U of A (The University of Arizona)-

1.) Blenman

2.) Alta Vista

3.) Catalina Vista

4.) Speedway Heights

5.) Monterey Addition

Best Luxury Home Neighborhoods Near/ Close By The University Of Arizona (U of A)-

1.) Olsens Addition

2.) University Manor

3.) El Encanto Estates

4.) Catalina Vista

5.) Country Club Homesites

Tucson or Phoenix Which Area Should You Live In?

Since Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in America the question is always posed, should I move to the Phoenix area? Or the Tucson region? Being a Realtor people like to know all the differences in the cities and also the housing markets/ what the homes are like as Arizona homes are definitely much different then most of the housing options across the rest of the country. In Arizona specifically Tucson and Phoenix we have Haciendas, Territorials, as well as more traditional Spanish Colonials, Queen Anne’s, and Contemporary homes of all sizes and price ranges.

If you are considering the Tucson or Phoenix metro areas to move/ relocate/ or retire to you are in luck as I represent buyers in both regions and know them both very well. Few Realtors can sell in both areas and while most of my business is conducted in the Tucson region I do routinely represent clients in the Phoenix metro area as well including; Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Glendale, Buckeye, etc. For those buyers relocating/ moving/ retiring and wanting to understand both areas as well as the benefits/ disadvantages of each working with a sole Realtor who knows both metro regions and can give unbiased, informative information is a huge benefit! Most buyers will use a separate Realtor for each metro region (Phoenix and Tucson) and with that being the case each Realtor will push the buyer hard to buy in their city otherwise they will receive no commission or pay for their time. That being the case sometimes buyers get a biased view on each area and cannot get the best information available for their needs and individual wants.

-If you want to explore moving/ retiring/ relocating to either the Tucson or Phoenix area the best thing you can do for yourself is work with one Realtor who will truly help you figure out what metro area will work best and then even more so what segment of that metro area ie: “I know I want to buy in Phoenix now, but what area should I focus on; Scottsdale, Peoria, Suprise, or Gilbert?”.

So what are the large differences (+/-) between the Phoenix area and Tucson? Lets start with the Tucson area by comparing it to Phoenix.

Tucson Arizona is about a one and a half hour drive south of Phoenix Arizona. Tucson is located about 60 minutes north

Tucson's Dove Mountain area

of the Mexican border town of Nogales Arizona. Tucson sits in a valley surrounded by mountains. I personally prefer the Tucson Mountains to the Phoenix ones but that’s a personal preference. Tucson has a metro population of just over 1 million people and growing quickly. Homes here on average are in my mind a little better value in Tucson yet apples to apples many areas of Phoenix offer much less expensive homes then the Tucson area due to the oversupply of homes the Phoenix area absorbed with the real estate depression. What are the other pluses of living in Tucson? Well here they are;

Here are some of the large differences you may not realize and most wont tell you until you find out yourself:

-In Tucson it rains more often

-Additional rain makes for a much more abundant desert both in plant sizes and in amount/ diversity.

-It’s about 10 degrees cooler in Tucson then Phoenix. Somewhat a big difference in the summer-

-Tucson is much more serious about desert conservation on the whole then Phoenix. This makes for Tucson to be a much more “green” city then Phoenix

-Tucson still has a small town fell in a lot of aspects.

So those where the pluses what are the downsides?

-The freeway system is not as advanced as Phoenix Arizona. Tucson has no east to west freeway going across town takes a while.

-The economy is not as diverse

-Jobs pay a little less in Tucson than Phoenix. I also believe living expenses are less in Tucson however.

Now let’s move to the Phoenix, AZ area and what it offers residents. Phoenix Arizona is a metropolis in every way one thinks of a metropolis. It offers literally everything a person could want at any time. Within Maricopa County the County where Phoenix resides roughly 75% of Arizona’s state population lives. The Phoenix Metro region has a population of about 4.3 million. Everything about Phoenix is higher end than Tucson the malls are larger, more variety of restaurants, shops, and housing developments all trump Tucson’s by a long ways. Phoenix also offers first class attractions including MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and well as an arena football team for sports fans.  The economy is also much more diverse as a major business hub of the southwestern US. Due to the serious decline in prices of Phoenix real estate I would say currently homes in Phoenix are lower in price for an apples to apples comparison. With that being said Tucson has no areas like Tempe and Scottsdale to compare with Tucson’s high end area is called The Catalina Foothills and really no comparison to Scottsdale or even the more high end district of Fountain Hills. So with all that being said here are the other additional advantages of living in Phoenix over Tucson;

-More diverse economy

-Better business climate

-Better shopping and services

-Much larger city allows for more opportunities and all the other benefits of living in a large metropolis.

Now what’s not better in Phoenix;

-It’s a very busy city, and the people in it are generally in a hurry. Tucson is much more laid back and easy going.

-It’s hotter in Phoenix by about 10 degrees over Tucson

-Traffic is much worse in Phoenix although Tucson does not have the advanced freeway systems it’s for the reason Tucson does not have the need for them. Large traffic jams are an everyday occurrence in Phoenix.

-The Phoenix desert is not as lush and diverse many areas of it sparsely grow compared to Tucson.

If you have questions about either the Tucson or Phoenix area and it’s real estate and would like unbiased and honest information feel free to email/ call me with your questions or concerns and I will be more then happy to go over them with you. All emails and calls are generally returned within the hour or by the end of the day for sure.

Tucson has a large population of winter residents and second home owners

I always get a lot of interest and sell a lot of homes to people on the verge of retiring/ just retired/ or wanting a second home that can then become their retirement home within 5-10 years. Tucson on the whole is a mecca for those about to retire as it has a relative low cost of living, lots of amenities, world class weather, and low home prices allowing second homes to be affordable for most people interested in owning one.

In this post I will answer a lot of the questions I routinely receive and hopefully this will help those looking for a second home/ or to retire to Tucson with common questions about Tucson retirement/ second/ winter homes.

The first question is: What area should I look into?

Well this question is highly dependent upon your personal wants and needs. Many times it comes simply down to price if you are like most and want a reasonably nice 3 bed 2 bath in a newer area that maybe or maybe not gated these neighborhoods exist is all areas of Tucson. Many people moving here from across the country seem to concentrate their efforts on Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita, Green Valley and Vail Arizona which are all basically suburbs of Tucson. Price is what generally separates buyers at the end of the day with that being said here are the highest priced market and my idea of where the best for under $150k.

Most Expensive: Oro Valley- Simply put Oro Valley is where the majority of winter home/ retirement/ second home owners want to reside. The area has the best mountain views in the region, higher end feel, higher end services and stores/ shopping/ dining. As a result of the demand the home prices are the highest in this area. Now price is not much higher but a reasonable nicely appointed 3/2 is going to run you about $200,000- $225,000. For those that can afford it the price is worth it, yet what other areas are available?

Lowest priced: Sahuarita- Sahaurita Arizona is just north of Green Valley and just south of Tucson in Sahuarita over the past 3 years home prices have plunged as the area was a hotbed for foreclosures and new home builders continued to push new homes on the market. The area is very new and in five to ten years I believe you may see some of the nicest neighborhoods and new developments within the area as it is one of the fastest growing cities in America. However currently the prices are very affordable and buyer’s looking for that Tucson winter home/ second home can buy a nice 3/2 in a age restricted (55+) neighborhood for under $150,000. In some cases under $125,000! Simply put the prices cannot be beat if your looking to spend under $150k.

Another common question asked: If I am not ready to move down full time what financing is available for me on a second home?

Financing on a second home/ winter home is a lot like financing on a primary residence. In general buyers should be looking at a 20% down payment on the property and an interest rate of between 1/2% and 3/4% higher then the going rate for a primary residence. Other requirements are the same as any mortgage being that buyers must have an income that allows then to afford an additional property as well as a credit score that shows a history of re-paying debts. A credit score of over 625 should be enough, along with the proper income and 20% down payment for any buyer to obtain second home financing in Tucson.

Should I buy a Tucson vacation/ winter home now while prices are low or wait for when I am ready to move to Tucson full time?

Obviously this is a personal question that everyone has a different answer to yet it is important to realize Tucson home prices have declined in most areas 40%+ over the past 4 years. The deals are out there to be taken advantage of. Furthermore for those buyers that may not be spending a lot of time at their new winter home you can easily rent it out for the time you will not be able to use it. Many owners do this with their furnished winter homes they simply rent them out by the week/ month for those wanting to vacation in the Tucson area specifically during the winter. Oro Valley and the Catalina Foothills are the best areas to own a winter home if your thinking renting the property out weekly while you are unable to use it. These areas command high weekly rental rates from the end of October through March. I have personally seen average but well appointed single family homes with great views command upwards of $3,000 per month during the winter season! This can easily help offset mortgage costs for the time you wont be able to use your Tucson winter home.

If you interested in obtaining additional info about a winter home/ second home purchase in the Tucson area feel free to give me a call or email as I have a lot of experience assisting those moving from out of state find exactly what they are looking for and getting a great value on it.

Moving to Tucson Arizona from another part of the country can bring with it all sorts of questions for those about to relocate. The first question that comes to many people’s mind when they are in the process of Moving to Tucson, Arizona is “Is there enough water?” It’s a very common misconception that because Tucson sits within the Sonoran Desert that there is no water or vegetation or wildlife. All are simply not true people moving to Tucson once they arrive will realize Tucson sits within a valley and the actual desert surrounding it is diverse and lush. Tucson’s desert is much more diverse then either of it’s large southwest neighbor cities such as Phoenix or Las Vegas; Tucson sits at a better elevation and receives more rainfall then either Las Vegas or Phoenix.

When moving to Tucson what else should you know?

Relocating to Tucson brings up several questions such as:

What are home prices like in Tucson and what can I get for my money compared to maybe a Los Angeles, or Chicago?

This question can be answered prety simply as Tucson is at about the national average for home prices. If your relocating or moving from a higher priced area of the US such as; Los Angeles, San Diego, San Fransisco, Seattle, Chicago, New York City, or Boston you will be able to find roughly two times as much house for your money (maybe more for those coming from NYC, or SF) for comparable areas. If your moving or relocating from an area such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, or Orlando you should see comparable home sizes and areas for the same or very close in price. The average home size in Tucson is roughly a little over 1,800sf. For those moving from the Midwest or east coast however you should realize Tucson homes do not have basements (or attics for the most part) so storage is a little harder to come by. One other thing worth mentioning is garage size is NOT included in the square footage of a home here in Tucson as in some parts of the country.

What do people in Tucson do for fun?

This is another question we get a lot, especially those from the faster paced cities of L.A. and New York City. While Tucson cannot compete with the attractions and entertainment options of those cities Tucson does have a lot to offer. Tucson as previously mentioned sits within a valley it has mountains, parks, the University of Arizona, and the regular high schools and other amenities other cities across the nation have. Tucson is known for its bike riding due to the weather and the biking community that resides here. Tucson along with being about an hour north of the US- Mexico border allows residents to make short day trips into Mexico for shopping and vacations. Tucson is also roughly 8 hours from Los Angeles, 6.5 hours from Las Vegas, and 1.5 hours from Phoenix for those with family in those cities or looking for weekend trips to them.

What are the established areas to live within Tucson? Where are the newer places people are moving?

Since I am a real estate agent a majority of the questions fielded by out of state buyers moving to Tucson are about the areas/Tucson neighborhoods and which ones are growing and which are already established. While it is against the law for an Realtor in Arizona to quote/ advise, or interpret crime stats and/or where a particular person should move/ live for whatever reason it is important for out of state buyers moving to Tucson to understand how the dynamics of its real estate market. Some people moving to Tucson want to live in a remote area, while other want to find new housing, still others want to move to where the close by amenities are.

To make it simple for those reading this to understand Tucson is a fast growing city the population is continually growing. The city keeps growing outward from downtown. The most established areas are those in central Tucson, north Tucson (The Catalina Foothills), Northeast Tucson, and the east side of Tucson.

The newer areas where you will find new homes available and new shopping as well as a suburban feel will be the areas of Northwest Tucson, Southeast Tucson, Southwest Tucson, as well as the cities of Sahuarita, Marana, Oro Valley, Vail, and Catalina.

Also generally speaking the further you go away from the city the lower the housing prices and the longer the commutes. Unlike the Phoenix area, or L.A. or the other mega metro areas of the country Tucson for the most part does not have traffic issues. While like anywhere sometimes traffic is backed up it is nothing like most of Southern California and many people moving here from a mega city enjoy the ability to get places relatively quickly.

For those interested in learning more about Tucson Arizona and its real estate market feel free to send an email or call directly as I have been selling homes in Tucson since 2002 and for the most part understand what people that are moving to Tucson from out of state are looking for and what questions they want answered. Moving from across country is not always easy or stress-free, but working with a Tucson Realtor who understands the process and the complexities of a cross-country move should make life a little bit easier on everyone involved.

Rita Ranch is a popular master-planned neighborhood on the southeast side of Tucson along Houghton and Rita Rd. Homes in the neighborhood are always coming on and off the market as there is a constant demand for them. Rita Ranch is within the 85747 zip code. 85747 Homes are highly coveted due to there location close to DMAFB and access to I-10 as well as Tucson’s east side. The best deals in Rita Ranch however sell quickly as buyer’s quickly scoop them up. In todays market foreclosures, short sales, and sometimes individual sellers with equity are where the best deals on homes are at. In Rita Ranch some new homes are still available however they are just outside “Rita Ranch” yet in the same general area. Homes in Rita Ranch Start in the mid 100k’s and can range up in price to the low $300k;s depending upon the size and amenities.

Rita Ranch is a great options for buyers wanting to live on the Southeast side of Tucson

Home buyers looking to buy a home in Rita Ranch should check the new listings as there are new homes hitting the Tucson market in Rita Ranch daily. New listings and homes that have just been reduced in price are the best areas to concentrate a home search as it shows the sellers have the most interest in selling. “Stale” homes or those homes that have been on the market in Rita Ranch without going under contract or having a price reduction show the seller is not as motivated and many times the buyer will not be able to strike as good of a deal as when dealing with a motivated and serious seller. Today those sellers are generally banks looking to sell their foreclosures and short sales.

Foreclosures in Rita Ranch like other parts of Tucson vary yet for the most part offer every size and price range in the Rita Ranch neighborhood.

Buying a condo in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills makes sense for a number of reasons, if it’s your first home you can own a piece of the Foothills for a very reasonable price (condos start in the low to mid 100k’s). Tucson Foothills condo’s also make a lot of sense for the person who wants a well located and the “in demand” district the Catalina Foothills brings to the Tucson Valley. Furthermore upkeep in minimal, for both first time buyers (busy young professionals) and winter residents who only spend ½ the year in the Tucson region make buying a condo in The Catalina Foothills a natural and logical choice. Hopefully this post will serve as a buying guide for both segments of the Tucson condo market.

When buying a condo as most people realize you’re buying into more then just “your condo” you’re buying a portion of the entire development. Part of this development will include the location, amenities, lifestyle, curb appeal, essentially everything that development has going for it, but also you will be receiving everything it doesn’t have going for it as well. Was the condo development originally an apartment? If so that can lead to very basic floor plans and the minimums for construction standards. Remember apartments are built with only “cash-flow” in mind and items such as architectural innovation and improved efficiencies (through well constructed buildings) will not be present in most apartment conversions turned condos. Try to stay with condo developments in the foothills that were originally built to be sold as Condo’s not apartments. What else to pay attention to?

Pay attention to the condition of the property/ condo community, if the condo development is being maintained to its highest level you should be able to tell right away. Pay attention to how the units look and how the grounds are maintained. If you choose to buy in a condo development that either isn’t charging enough to cover good maintaince or isn’t being managed properly by the condo board your investment will be in jeopardy. It’s best to stick with condo developments in the foothills of Tucson that have flawlessly maintained common areas, and where all the units look crisp, and in great condition this will in most instances protect your investment. Keep in mind with a condo development in Tucson AZ its not just about whether or not “you” take good care of your unit and areas but whether the other owners and the overall condo board keeps things in proper condition and order. In general condo dues are pretty high in The Catalina Foothills (of Tucson Arizona) condo fees can run from $150/month to over $500/month make sure your getting what you pay for or don’t buy in that condo development/ neighborhood. Also don’t be afraid to pay a higher then average amount in condo dues if the development is being well maintained and managed. Believe me this is exactly what you as an owner want in a condo board all the upkeep/ management is not cheap or easy when carried out correctly.

How do you select the right unit? When buying (making a purchase) a Tucson Arizona (AZ) condo it’s important to buy the best located condo you can afford in the best condo development (neighborhood) that fit your needs and lifestyle requirements. When picking units try to buy a unit towards the back of the complex/ development. Towards the back is generally where you will see the least amount of traffic and congestion. Also go for the unit that offers the best views, people that buy condos generally do so because of the cost and in the Tucson Foothills views carry a lot of value with them. If you can obtain a condo that offers incredible views this will always make your unit “in-demand” regardless of many other deterrent factors. It is ok to buy for views with a condo and make other considerations assuming you’re able to make repairs/ fix-ups on the condo. After the overall development I would rate views as a second in terms of what will help protect your condo investment, this is very specific to The Catalina Foothills though. In Tucson’s ritzy Catalina Foothills views sell at a premium, lots of second home owners/ winter visitors buy winter property in The Foothills purely for the views the unit offers. As a first time condo buyer you may not value the “view” as much but don’t be ignorant to the fact that they matter immensely in this section of town. The better the views the more demand your unit will have when you decide to sell at a further date. Other things to keep in mind about buying a condo in Tucson AZ?

One last item for condo buyers to keep in mind when buying a condo in Tucson is that Tucson golf condo’s are always in high demand and in most cases if you’re a buyer who wants some security purchase a Tucson Golf Condo. Tucson Arizona is a golf wonderland world renown the local Golf Condos in Tucson Arizona (AZ) that are for sale always seem to attract a lot of attention and buyer activity. Buying a golf condo in a golf resort or a resort area condo will give you as the owner all the amenities of the resort/ golf club. (Separate cost of golf/resort membership typically not part of condo dues) Residents really like to own condo’s in resort communities and in Tucson this is no different, keep this in mind when making your condo purchase in the Tucson AZ area and more specifically the Tucson Foothills. (Catalina Foothills) If you keep these ideas in mnd should be able to maximize what you get for the money at the same time as protecting your condo investment.

If your looking for help to locate and help represent your interest when buying a Tucson condo feel free to contact us as we understand a lot of the complexities of Condo buying in the Tucson Arizona area.

Condo Developments/ Communities in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills. (Also known as North Tucson)

Skyline Springs Condos

Sunrise Springs

Reflections in the Catalina Condo Units

Twelve Hundred River Rd Condos

Veranda at Ventana Condominiums

Villas at Sabino Canyon Condominiums

Pinnacle Canyon Condos

Ventana Vista

Placita Escondida

Canyon View @ Ventana Condos

Reflections in the Catalina Condo Units

Tierra Catalina Condominiums

Greens at Ventana Canyon

Dakotah Hills Condominiums

River Park At The Foothills

Catalina Foothills Condos

The Villas at Hacienda Del Sol