Real Estate Investing in Tubac, Arizona (85646)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Santa Cruz County • Population: 1,280 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85646 (Tubac, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 31.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Tubac, AZ (85646)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $505,006
Avg Monthly Rent $1,521
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,667
% Renters 14.5%

Market Analysis: 85646 Tubac

ZIP 85646 inside Santa Cruz County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $505K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $505K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 85646 is substantial and deserves full respect.

On the rental side, 85646 offers a low basis, the region around Tubac has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 85646 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

leans the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Tubac:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,521/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Nogales, AZ Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
4.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Nogales, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 85646

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$197,258/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $447,387 $1,690 2.7% +8.5% $223,694
3BR $591,775 $2,350 2.9% +8.8% $197,258

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$543K$475K$406K$337K$269K$200KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85646 Compare?

Metric 85646 Tubac Nogales, AZ Arizona
Home Value $505,006 $505,006 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,521 $1,521 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85646? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85646 (Tubac, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Nogales, AZ metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $505,006
Monthly Rent $1,521
Price-to-Rent 27.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 5.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
31.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85646

Population: 1,280

💰 Median Household Income
$87,667
This area
$87,667
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
56.1%
This area
56.1%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
69.2 years
This area
69.2 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
31.8%
This area
31.8%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.9%
Other/Mixed 13.1%
Hispanic/Latino 9.1%
👶 Under 18
7.3%
This area
7.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
60.0%
This area
60.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical vacancy rate in Tubac, AZ?

Tubac, AZ vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How do home values compare in Tubac, AZ?

In Tubac, AZ the median home value sits at $505K. Against the broader AZ market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Are rents high in Tubac, AZ?

Tubac, AZ rentals go for roughly $1,521/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $505K acquisition costs.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Tubac, AZ?

House hacking in Tubac, AZ is a challenging. With home values around $505K and rents at $1,521/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

How strong is Tubac, AZ for real estate investors?

Tubac, AZ scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $505K and rents near $1,521/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 85646 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 85646 ranks in Nogales, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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