4 Great Cities to Buy a Home in Arizona

If you’ve ever vacationed in the state of Arizona, then you might have enjoyed the abundant sunshine and plentiful activities so much that you’re thinking about moving there.

After a few visits, many prospective residents contemplate the idea of making the Grand Canyon State their permanent residence. Some of the most popular cities for new residents to live in are Scottsdale, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Buckeye.

In this post, we will take a look at these 4 amazing cities in more detail. Additionally, we will delve into what makes them fun places to live, as well as recent market trends. This way, if you are considering moving and buying a home in one of these cities, you can make an informed decision.

Scottsdale

Scottsdale sits to the northeast of Phoenix and has 21 neighborhoods. Three of the best include Monterey Arcadia, Indian Bend, and Via Linda Corridor.

Fun Things to Do: This city has lots to do. TPC Scottsdale is only one of many reputable golf courses, and there are also a variety of spa resorts for date nights and pampering. To the north, outdoor enthusiasts flock to McDowell Sonoran Preserve and its landscape of cacti, rock formations, and hills.

Pay homage to Frank Lloyd Wright by visiting the architect’s studio and home at Taliesin West. Downtown, visit Old Town Scottsdale for 1920 architecture and olive trees dating back to the 19th century. Get your fill of professional sports in the surrounding Phoenix area, home to franchises in the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and MLB. Overall safety and quality of life wound up meaning Scottsdale was once listed as the #1 place in America to move to with your family.

Median Home Price: Median asking prices are around $799,000 with median sale prices of $750,000. Median square footage prices are $382.

Recent Real Estate Trends: Median home values across the Scottsdale market are up over 31% from the previous year. Act fast if you see a home you like because there are currently more buyers than sellers. The median time on the market for Scottsdale homes has gone down from 40+ days last year to just over a month now.

Summary of Scottsdale

Scottsdale is a great place to live for many reasons. With Phoenix being the state capital, there are plenty of government jobs available in addition to tourism and local economic activity. When you want to get your family out of town, you can find the Grand Canyon or ski resorts both only a few hours away. California, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico are also easy road trips.

This part of the country has a reputation for serious heat, but it’s only about three months of the year. The rest is just comfortably or pleasantly warm. During the winter, Scottsdale can even get a little bit of snow.

Tucson

Choose from 171 different neighborhoods to join the nearly 1 million people already calling the Tucson area home.

Fun Things to Do: Numerous canyons and parks offer the serenity that only the desert can provide. Canyoneering and rock climbing are available for those looking to get a good workout in.

Explore old Air Force Ones at the Pima Air and Space Museum, and take in a new show every other month at the Gaslight Theatre. If you enjoy the arts, the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall hosts numerous off-Broadway shows, and Tucson Convention Center offers everything from professional ice hockey to the latest Disney show.

• Median Home Price: The median listing price for a Tucson home is $325,000, and the median sell price is $313,000.
• Recent Real Estate Trends: Average home prices have risen 21% over the prior year. Median square foot pricing is still under $200.

Looking for the hottest neighborhoods? Check out Civano, Rita Ranch, and Flowing Wells.

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is a collection of 35 neighborhoods in Northern Arizona. The city proper is home to 70,000 people with twice that in the surrounding area.

Fun Things to Do: The city is surrounded by large natural areas of desert and mountains but also ponderosa pine forests. The tallest mountain in the state is close by, Humphreys Peak.

If you love skiing, then the Arizona Snowbowl resort is nearby as well. Enjoy pueblo sites of Native Americans at both Walnut Canyon and Wupataki National Monuments.

• Median Home Price: The median asking price for a Flagstaff home is $625,000, but the median selling price is closer to $692,500.
• Recent Real Estate Trends: Home values in Flagstaff have risen more than 37% over the previous year. Listed homes have a median square footage price of $349.

Summary of Flagstaff

Flagstaff has homes available at all price points. Project homes can be found in the five digits, while the most expensive properties are asking nearly $10 million. This location does feature affordable townhomes and condos.

Buckeye

Buckeye sits west of Phoenix on the outskirts of the West Valley.

Fun Things to Do: This is a great place to be if you love the outdoors. There are dozens of miles of trails for hiking, jogging, and biking through a lot of parks. Skydiving and golfing are regular activities, and an annual aviation fair is entertaining and educational.

• Median Home Price: The median listing price for a Buckeye home is $429,900, while the median selling price is a little less at $425,000.
• Recent Real Estate Trends: At the close of 2021, home prices in Buckeye were up 36% over the previous year. Buckeye, AZ homes for sale are incredibly popular, and the average time on market has hovered around 30 days for the last two years.

The city of Buckeye only has about 75,000 people now, but it’s one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States.

Arizona Is a Great Place to Live

The state might be famous to tourists for the Grand Canyon, but living here has quite a few perks, too. Great housing in a state like this puts you in a position to enjoy impeccable weather, lots of nature, and a thriving arts and culture scene intertwined with some of the country’s best vineyards.