Real Estate Investing in Tucson, Arizona (85746)

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

Pima County • Population: 44,030 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85746 (Tucson, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Tucson, AZ (85746)?

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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 $285,574
Avg Monthly Rent $1,311
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,611
% Renters 30.1%

Market Analysis: 85746 Tucson

The 85746 ZIP in Tucson, AZ is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $286K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $1,311/mo on a $286K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 85746 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Turning to rents, 85746 offers a low basis, the region around Tucson has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 85746 ZIP's population of 44,030 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 85746 is an operator game, not a passive one. Put differently, entry prices of $286K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,311/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 85746

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$71,147/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $225,543 $1,560 5.0% +8.8% $112,772
3BR $284,116 $2,170 5.5% +7.9% $94,705
4BR $314,867 $2,500 5.7% +7.5% $78,717
5BR $355,737 +7.5% $71,147

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$316K$266K$215K$164K$113K$62KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,803$1,683$1,563$1,442$1,322$1,202Apr 2022Jun 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85746 Compare?

Metric 85746 Tucson Tucson, AZ Arizona
Home Value $285,574 $199,626 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,311 $1,466 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85746? 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 85746 (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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
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
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
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 $285,574
Monthly Rent $1,311
Price-to-Rent 18.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -21.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -7.9% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85746

Population: 44,030

💰 Median Household Income
$65,611
This area
$65,611
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.1%
This area
30.1%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.4%
This area
15.4%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.8 years
This area
32.8 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 54.5%
Hispanic/Latino 45.9%
White 41.8%
Black/African American 2.7%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.0%
This area
14.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.2%
This area
16.2%
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 85746

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
15.2:1 Avg Class Size
$12,456 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Pistor Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
629 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Raul Grijalva Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
476 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Maldonado Amelia Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
257 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
B Good

John E White Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
627 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
B Good

Miller Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
456 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
B Good

Valencia Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
644 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
B Good

Frances J Warren Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
193 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
C+ Average

McCorkle PK-8

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
1,062 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
C+ Average

Tucson International Academy Midvale

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter Limited Data
👥
140 Students
💰
$14,926 Per Student
C Below Average

Ombudsman - Charter Valencia

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
362 Students
💰
$8,935 Per Student
C Below Average

Pima Rose Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
491 Students
💰
$8,206 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

6 Nearby 6,519 Off-Campus Students
C
Carrington College-Tucson
437 students · 12.4 mi
C
Aveda Institute-Tucson
264 students · 12.6 mi
B
University of Arizona
53,001 students · 13.9 mi
C
HDS Truck Driving Institute
342 students · 14.5 mi
C+
Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School
53 students · 14.8 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Tucson
213 students · 14.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Tucson, AZ?

Rents in Tucson, AZ run near $1,311/mo. Compared with median home prices of $286K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What investment strategy works best in Tucson, AZ?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Tucson, AZ. The numbers - $286K homes against $1,311/mo rents - support that play.

Should investors consider Tucson, AZ?

Investors tracking Tucson, AZ will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $286K median home values and $1,311/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting stable returns.

Is Tucson, AZ good for house hacking?

House hacking works a challenging in Tucson, AZ. Rents of $1,311/mo against $286K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Tucson, AZ?

Vacancy risk in Tucson, AZ is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

You know 85746 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85746 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 85746 ranks in Tucson, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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