tucson

Benefits of Moving From California to Arizona

Long before it even became a state, there’s always been a rush to move to California. From the Gold Rush to the Summer of Free Love in the ‘60s, from aspiring actors and musicians hoping to “make it” to snowbirds looking for sun, millions have chosen California as their dream relocation.

As neighbors of the state, us Arizonans understand the appeal but find it kind of baffling. We know there’s so much more to Arizona than cactus and desert tumbleweeds. Anyone can benefit from moving to AZ, but for those already living in CA, the benefits of moving here are priceless.

What are the benefits of moving from California to Arizona?

1. It’s much, much less expensive.

What’s the point of living in your “dream state” if you can’t afford to enjoy all that it has to offer? California is notoriously expensive. Compared to Arizona, you could save money in almost every aspect of life by moving here.

From house prices to grocery bills to everything in between, California has a significantly higher cost of living. By living in Arizona, you can still get many of the benefits of the Sunshine State, without having to break the bank.

2. It’s much less crowded.

With all that’s gone on in 2020, it makes sense why people crave open spaces. Countless people have quickly seen the pros of city living turn into cons when having to shelter in place.

California has a population density of 251.3 people per square mile. Arizona, by contrast, has 63. Buying a house here means a yard, privacy, access to nature but without all the crowds. Especially at Saguaro Ranch, we’re leaving 80 percent of the land undisturbed — a true nature preserve and desert sanctuary. Trading in the feeling of being packed like sardines has never felt so good.

Infographic comparing the cost of living in California and Arizona

3. You still have amazing city life.

Tucson has a flourishing arts scene, is home to some of the best Mexican food in the country (as well as countless other cuisines), has all the benefits of a college town, and is only a short drive away from Saguaro Ranch. Whenever you crave the city life, it’s not far away — but far enough to still have the peace and quiet of our desert and mountain sanctuary.

4. The access to nature is incomparable.

Image of a desert tortoise found onsite at the Saguaro Ranch real estate development

Both California and Arizona are home to some unbelievable national parks. But what a lot of people don’t know is that the Grand Canyon State is home to some gorgeous sandy beaches as well. Here in Tucson, we’re just over an hour away from Patagonia Lake State Park, a great place for wildlife viewing and — you guessed it — sandy beaches. 

The outdoor fun doesn’t stop there. Arizona has miles upon miles of stunning hiking trails. At our luxury desert real estate development, we have designated hiking, running, and mountain biking trails in one of the most breathtaking parts of the country. The only difference from California is that they’re reserved for our guests — you won’t spend your hike trying to pass people or get out of their way.

5. It’s still close to California!

From Tucson, you’re about 4 hours away from the CA border. It’s easy to take a weekend trip to San Diego or Disneyland, without having to deal with all the headaches that come from living in California. But we’re pretty sure once you’re here, you won’t be in any rush to leave.

Saguaro Ranch has estate lots for sale designed for homeowners who crave a desert oasis, who want the sunshine without the soaring housing prices. You can build the house of your dreams here, but if you prefer to buy at our Moonlight Canyon real estate development, that’s an option too.

Look through our photo gallery, plan your visit, or even take a self-guided driving tour if you’re in the area! Call us to get things going — we guarantee you’ll find that the benefits of moving from California to Arizona are practically endless.

Building Guidelines at Saguaro Ranch

One drive through the 600-ft tunnel and subsequent Sonoran desert oasis and it’s clear to see why Saguaro Ranch is a picture-perfect location to build a house. Take a look at five important Saguaro Ranch building guidelines and start planning your dream home.

1. We’re all about nature.

Saguaro Ranch is located in one of the most beautiful, naturally preserved locations in the country. We plan on keeping it that way. We talk with builders about cleanup, working hours (which vary by season) and other best practices to help SR stay as undisturbed as possible. In fact, if a protected plant (such as saguaro) is threatened in building your house and is of a certain size, it will be transplanted instead of cut down.

2. We want homes to reflect the area…

Our design guidelines outline materials that are permitted for building. We want homes to use natural colors that occur in the landscape while still maintaining a contemporary Arizona feel. The same for materials — no wood siding, but adobe and stone and other materials are permitted (and encouraged).

Image of saguaro cactus with a beautiful teal and pink desert sunset in the background

3. ...but there are still a lot of custom measures you can implement.

We encourage uniqueness! For our estate lots, there’s infinite potential for how you can build in this space. Solar panels, large panoramic windows, fireplaces — the world (desert?) is your oyster.

Homes must have at least 2,700 square feet and we maintain certain height restrictions (we don’t want to block anyone’s view), and if you’ve got ideas that comply with the surrounding environment, we’re all ears.

4. You can choose your own builders.

Image of flowering saguaro cactus at sunrise, onsite at Saguaro Ranch real estate development

When you’re getting ready to purchase one of our residential lots for sale, we’ll drive to the site you have in mind with you and your architect. You’ll share your vision with us and submit your building concepts. Once your plans are reviewed and approved by our Design Review Committee, you’re good to go. But don’t worry — we’ll share our design guidelines with the builders and architect so they know what to expect.

5. We have a limited number of residential lots for sale.

In such a pristine setting, it’s no wonder we currently have a limited number of Estate Lots available. We invite you to come visit and check out our self-guided driving tour to check these Estate Lots out. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us — we’re happy to help.