Real Estate Investing in Tucson, Arizona (85749)

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

Pima County • Population: 18,257 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85749 (Tucson, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

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: 10.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.5 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Tucson, AZ (85749)?

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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 $658,915
Avg Monthly Rent $1,744
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $108,223
% Renters 15.8%

Market Analysis: 85749 Tucson

ZIP 85749 inside Pima County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $659K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Rent of $1,744/mo on a $659K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 85749 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 85749 sits on the difficult end of the AZ spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 85749 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The 85749 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,744/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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 85749

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$180,613/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $455,548 $1,720 2.7% +6.8% $227,774
3BR $579,497 $2,390 3.0% +7.7% $193,166
4BR $722,450 $2,750 2.7% +7.9% $180,613
5BR $904,086 +8.6% $180,817

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$691K$606K$521K$436K$351K$266KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,851$1,826$1,802$1,777$1,752$1,727Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85749 Compare?

Metric 85749 Tucson Tucson, AZ Arizona
Home Value $658,915 $199,626 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 3.2% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,744 $1,466 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85749? 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 →
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 85749 (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
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.0%
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 $658,915
Monthly Rent $1,744
Price-to-Rent 31.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 6.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
10.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85749

Population: 18,257

💰 Median Household Income
$108,223
This area
$108,223
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.8%
This area
15.8%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
55.1%
This area
55.1%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.8 years
This area
54.8 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.7%
Other/Mixed 12.5%
Hispanic/Latino 7.9%
Asian 1.6%
Black/African American 1.1%
👶 Under 18
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.3%
This area
30.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
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 85749

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
16.2:1 Avg Class Size
$27,738 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Agua Caliente School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,731 Per Student
A Very Good

Emily Gray Junior High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,731 Per Student
A Very Good

Tanque Verde Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
625 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,731 Per Student
A Very Good

Tanque Verde High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
730 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,731 Per Student
B Good

Collier Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
112 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
B Good

PCJTED - Sabino High School

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

PCJTED - Tanque Verde High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$85,487 Per Student
C+ Average

Sabino High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
863 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,118 Per Student
C+ Average

Hermosa Montessori Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
222 Students
💰
$11,653 Per Student
C Below Average

Academy of Tucson Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
145 Students
💰
$11,172 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Canyon Rose Academy-East

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
42 Students
💰
$10,156 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 2,056 Off-Campus Students
D
Arizona Academy of Beauty
49 students · 9.1 mi
C
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson
2,744 students · 9.2 mi
D
Brookline College-Tucson
211 students · 9.8 mi
F
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
566 students · 9.9 mi
C
Pima Community College
15,819 students · 10.2 mi
C
Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
20 students · 11.9 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Tucson
213 students · 12.2 mi
C+
Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School
53 students · 12.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,056 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Tucson, AZ?

Rent in Tucson, AZ is around $1,744/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $659K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Tucson, AZ?

In Tucson, AZ the durable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $659K prices and $1,744/mo rents suits that approach.

How strong is Tucson, AZ for real estate investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Tucson, AZ reflects its $659K prices and $1,744/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within AZ.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Tucson, AZ?

Tucson, AZ sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader AZ rental market.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Tucson, AZ?

House hacking in Tucson, AZ is a challenging. With home values around $659K and rents at $1,744/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

You know 85749 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 85749 ranks in Tucson, AZ

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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