Tucson Arizona - New Homes in the Old Pueblo

Tucson, county seat of Pima County, is the second largest city in Arizona, with 518, 956 residents according to 2006 census figures.  Nicknamed ”the Old Pueblo,” the city is located southeast of Phoenix, along Interstate 10 and I-19, just 60 miles north of the U.S. - Mexico border.  From a vantage point high in the desert valley, Tucson real estate features a panoramic mountain view with the Rincon Mountains to the east, the Santa Rita Mountains to the southeast and south, the Tucson Mountains to the west, the Tortolita Mountain to the northwest and the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north and northeast.  Known as the southernmost ski destination in the continental U.S., the high point of the Santa Catalina mountain range is 9,157-foot Mount Lemmon.

New Homes for Sale in Tucson

The median price of a Tucson new home is approximately $218,000, as of September, 2007, down 3% from the same period last year.  As in many real estate markets, Tucson currently has an excess inventory of new homes for sale due to the housing and mortgage crisis.  But statistics indicate that housing inventory has declined over the past, five consecutive months in the Tucson metropolitan area, and the rate of foreclosures for the Tucson real estate market is lower than both state and national averages.  Many real estate experts forecast a rebound in the Tucson new home market in 2008.

So whether you’re looking for single-family new homes in Tucson, Tucson golf-course new home communities, luxury homes in Tucson, Tucson vacation homes, or townhouses or condominiums in Tucson, now may be the best time to buy a new home and take advantage of the selection and historically low mortgage interest rates.

The Tucson Economy

Tucson is home to the University of Arizona (UA or U of A), a land and space-grant public institution for higher education and research that houses Arizona’s only traditional or allopathic medical school.  The university, with a 2006-2007 enrollment of 36,805 students, is also one of the largest employers in Tucson.

The military presence in and around Tucson is a major force in its economy.  Davis-Monthan Air Force Base employs 7,000 military and 1,600 civilian employees earning nearly $200-million a year; estimates are that the base has $750 million economic impact on the city of Tucson.  The air force base and the US Army Intelligence Center - Fort Huachuca- in neighboring Sierra Vista, have helped to draw a large number of high-tech industries and government contractors to the local economy.

Southern Arizona is home to more than 1,200 high-tech companies, including Raytheon Missile Systems, Texas Instruments, IBM, Intuit, Universal Avionics, Misys Healthcare Systems, Sanofi-Aventis, Ventana Medical Systems and Bombardier, offering high-quality jobs for over 50,000 people in Southern Arizona.  Tucson has earned the nickname “Optics Valley” because so many of its high-tech companies are in the optics industry, developing technology for everything from supermarket check-out to laser surgery.

Things to Do in Tucson

Arts & Culture

Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as a “mini-Mecca of the arts,” Tucson is a city rich in arts and culture, including music, dance, theater, photography, painting, sculpture and literary arts. In fact, Tucson is one of only 14 cities in the United States with a full complement of performing arts, including a symphony (Tucson Symphony Orchestra), ballet (Ballet Arizona), theater (Arizona Theatre Company) and opera (Arizona Opera Company).

History buffs can trace the area’s roots and tour sites, settlements, museums and attractions that tell the story of Southern Arizona.  Learn about its military history, Spanish missions and churches, Old West/American cowboy culture, Apache Indians, and its past as a mining/trading outpost.

Tucson is in the midst of a 10-year downtown revitalization project, called Rio Nuevo, slated to bring new residential, cultural, civic and business opportunities to the Heart of the City.

Sports and Recreation

As a favorite golf destination, Tucson offers more than 20 golf courses to suit every golfer’s skill level and preference.  With top-notch courses and more than 350 days of year-round sunshine, Tucson is a golfer’s paradise.

Baseball lovers know that Tucson is the only city in the U.S. to host Spring Training for three major league teams.  Fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox can see their teams play almost every day in March at Hi-Corbett Field and Tucson Electric Park.

College football and basketball fans can cheer on Tucson’s own University of Arizona Wildcats as they battle some of the finest teams in the Pacific-10 Conference.

For those who enjoy the Great Outdoors, Tucson offers a bevy of scenic parks and points of interest to hike and explore, including the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon and the Reid Park Zoo.  Both road and mountain biking are big in Tucson, and the city can boast that it is one of only eight cities in the country to earn a gold rating from the League of American Bicyclists for its friendly cycling environment.   Known as a popular winter haven for cyclists, Tucson hosts the Tour de Tucson, held in November each year. 

Events and Festivals

The city of Tucson plays host to an interesting array of events and festivals that give a nod to its culture and historical roots.

The Gem Mineral & Mineral Show, held in February each year, is one of the largest of its kind in the world.  Instead of one central show location, dozens of locations around Tucson serve as display space for some of the finest mineral specimens.  The two-week show attracts over 50,000 people from more than 20 countries worldwide.

Also held in February is the Tucson Rodeo, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, a week-long festival including one of the country’s top-20 rodeo events and the world’s longest parade with no motor vehicles.  The event kicks off the beginning of rodeo season.

One of the largest free festivals in the country, the Tuscon Folk Festival has been held the first weekend in May since 1987.  The event features one nationally-known music act nightly and showcases over 100 local and regional musicians on five stages over the course of the event. 

A unique event, called Tucson Meet Yourself, features singing, dancing, art and food celebrating the 30+ ethnic groups found in Tucson.  Put on every October for the past 30 years, the event features only local performers.

The largest festival celebrated in Tucson happens the first Sunday in November, as thousands of people gather and march at sundown in the All Souls Procession.  Modeled after the Mexican holiday, Dia del los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, the purpose of the festival is to recognize, mourn and celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones.

If you’re looking to relocate to an area with a strong economy and job market, wide selection of new homes for sale, and an interesting and vibrant culture and arts scene, take a look at Tucson new homes. Tucson has single-family homes, vacation or second-homes, luxury homes, or townhouses and condos to meet your needs and lifestyle.  Happy new house hunting!

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