Food, Clothing and SHELTER

There are THREE big, key area’s in life that are essential to survival: Food, Clothing and Shelter.


I am happy to say I am in the Shelter business. And with the population continuing to grow and the land being limited (only what is available on planet earth) I think it is a great place to invest for the long-term.

Here are some stats on Tucson’s Market.

Tucson is projected to be the 22nd fastest-growing major market in the U.S.

Rank Market % Growth

1. Palm Springs, CA 15%

2. Bend, OR 14%

3. Austin, TX 12%

4. Phoenix, AZ 11%

5. Bakersfield, CA 11%

6. Ft Myers-Napel, FL 10%

7. Atlanta, GA 10%

8. Grand Junction, CO 10%

9. Yuma-El Centro, AZ-CA 10%

10. Salt Lake City, UT 10%

11. Harlingen, TX 10%

12. Laredo, TX 9%

13. Orlando, FL 9%

14. Houston, TX 9%

15. Dallas-Ft Worth, TX 9%

16. Boise, ID 9%

17. Charlotte, NC 8%

18. Raleigh, NC 8%

19. Fresno-Visalia, CA 8%

20. Wilmington, NC 8%

21. Sacramento, CA 8%

22. Tucson (Sierra Vista), AZ 8%

23. Ft Smith, AR 8%

24. San Antonio, TX 8%

25. Denver, CO 7%

26. Savannah, GA 7%

27. Jacksonville, FL 7%

28. Idaho Falls, ID 7%

29. Charleston, SC 7%

30. W Palm Beach, FL 7%

Source: Claritas 2011

Tucson has the lowest cost of living in the state of Arizona, coming in 5% lower than the U.S. National average.

        Cost of Living Index        Avg Home Price       Home Energy Monthly Cost           Avg Gas $

US Average 100                      $253,558                         $157.65                                  $3.452

Tucson, AZ   95                       $239,706                         $146.14                                  $3.209

Phoenix, AZ 95 $241,396 $184.74 $3.321

Sierra Vista, AZ 100 $273,407 $154.92 $3.446

Prescott, AZ 104 $346,120 $164.69 $3.252

Yuma, AZ 104 $278,613 $210.38 $3.627

Lake Havasu City, AZ 109 $421,665 $154.47 $3.457

Flagstaff, AZ 113 $413,933 $167.62 $3.451

Source: Accra 2011 Annual Average

Economic Forecast: What’s ahead!

Economists from both U of A and ASU have completed their forecasts for the future of Arizona. Saying “Arizona’s recession has been over for more than a year, but we still haven’t seen the liftoff we need to move into growth.” Reports Dr. Lee McPheters director of the ASU Economic Outlook Center.


“Arizona’s economy will improve modestly this year with employment growing at less than 2% annual rates,” says Dr Marshall Vest, director of the UA Eller College of Management Economic and Business Research Center. “That pace will quicken and it will be 2013 when employment growth hits levels common during the later 1990s.”

Here are some interesting and exciting Stats:

Arizona’s population increased by 1.4% in 2011 ranking it as the 7th fastest-growing state in the nation.

Arizona’s population is July 2011 was 6,482,505.


Rank State % Change

1 Texas 2.10%

2 Utah 1.93%

3 Alaska 1.76%

4 Colorado 1.74%

5 North Dakota 1.69%

6 Washington 1.57%

7 Arizona 1.42%

8 Florida 1.36%

9 Georgia 1.32%

10 N Carolina 1.3%

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011 (April1, 2010 vs July 1, 2011)


Full Article in the Tucson Newcomer and Tourist Guide 2012 by Lee Allen.