Real Estate Investing in Tucson, Arizona (85704)

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

Pima County • Population: 34,608 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85704 (Tucson, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Tucson, AZ (85704)?

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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 $452,076
Avg Monthly Rent $1,463
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,268
% Renters 42.8%

Market Analysis: 85704 Tucson

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Tucson's 85704 ZIP clocks in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $452K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 85704 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader AZ picture, 85704 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Resident income in 85704 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 85704 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Tucson:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,463/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Tucson, AZ Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
70 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.0%
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 Tucson, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 85704

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
1BR
$131,291/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $131,291 $1,270 7.0% +6.3% $131,291
2BR $288,485 $1,650 4.1% +6.9% $144,242
3BR $435,013 $2,290 3.8% +7.7% $145,004
4BR $570,326 $2,640 3.3% +7.7% $142,582
5BR $698,711 +8.2% $139,742

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$476K$413K$350K$287K$224K$161KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,495$1,404$1,314$1,223$1,132$1,042Feb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85704 Compare?

Metric 85704 Tucson Tucson, AZ Arizona
Home Value $452,076 $199,626 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 3.2% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,463 $1,466 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85704? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 43% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85704 (Tucson, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Pima County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Fort Lowell Realty & Property Management provides realty and property management services in Tucson. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

WilsonPs.com is a domain name for sale. summary from their website

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Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Tucson, AZ metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
57%
Days Pending
2/2
70 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $452,076
Monthly Rent $1,463
Price-to-Rent 25.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
9.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85704

Population: 34,608

💰 Median Household Income
$73,268
This area
$73,268
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.8%
This area
42.8%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
48.5%
This area
48.5%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.3 years
This area
45.3 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.2%
Other/Mixed 14.0%
Hispanic/Latino 9.6%
Asian 5.0%
Black/African American 0.9%
👶 Under 18
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.5%
This area
28.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
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

🎓 Schools in 85704

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.1:1 Avg Class Size
$20,313 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Marion Donaldson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,759 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mesa Verde Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
281 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,759 Per Student
B+ Above Average

La Cima Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
354 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,759 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lulu Walker School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,759 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Winifred Harelson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
430 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,759 Per Student
B Good

PCJTED - Canyon Del Oro High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$85,487 Per Student
B Good

Lawrence W Cross Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
768 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,759 Per Student
C+ Average

Canyon Del Oro High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,737 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,759 Per Student
C Below Average

EDGE High School - Northwest

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
61 Students
💰
$15,013 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 6,519 Off-Campus Students
C+
Kino College
29 students · 2.0 mi
C
Tucson College of Beauty
134 students · 4.2 mi
C
Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
20 students · 6.1 mi
B
University of Arizona
53,001 students · 7.6 mi
C+
Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School
53 students · 7.8 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Tucson
213 students · 7.9 mi
C
Carrington College-Tucson
437 students · 7.9 mi
C
Aveda Institute-Tucson
264 students · 8.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,519 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does house hacking make sense in Tucson, AZ?

House hacking works a challenging in Tucson, AZ. Rents of $1,463/mo against $452K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How landlord-friendly is Tucson, AZ?

Landlord-friendliness in Tucson, AZ is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Tucson, AZ?

Expect elevated vacancy in Tucson, AZ. Rents at $1,463/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What do rentals go for in Tucson, AZ?

Average rent in Tucson, AZ is approximately $1,463/mo per month. Against $452K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Tucson, AZ?

Typical homes in Tucson, AZ go for around $452K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

You know 85704 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 85704 ranks in Tucson, AZ

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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