Tucson Real Estate Update: September 2026 Market, Rates, and More

by Jennifer Winchester

Published September 2026

Turns out salt isn't just for keeping demons out. It's also great for scrubbing gunk out of narrow vases. Sam and Dean never mentioned that part.

This month's roundup covers a little of everything: easy cleaning hacks, what a surprise jobs report and oil prices mean for mortgage rates, where Pima County home prices landed in August, and the story behind my new photos. That last one involves a full glam session and a cat named Naomi.

10 easy cleaning hacks

Some weeks call for a full deep clean. Most weeks just call for getting through the week. These hacks cover the small stuff that piles up in between, like jar lids, window tracks, and dusty baseboards. Most use things already in your kitchen drawer: a lemon, a dryer sheet, a coffee filter, or that old toothbrush you swore you'd throw out.

Test any cleaning method on a small, hidden spot first, and check your manufacturer's care instructions for screens and fixtures.

National real estate news

Two jobs reports walk into a bar

One says 162,000 new jobs. The other says 38,000. The first is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it came in well above expectations for August. The second is from ADP, which counts private employers only. Unemployment stayed at a low 4.1%. Markets believed the bigger number, and at the time of the report, the odds of a Fed rate hike at its next meeting jumped above 60%.

Sources: BLS, ADP, CME

Oil is in more stuff than you think

Gas is the obvious one. Less obvious are plastics, paint, fertilizer, synthetic fabrics, and the cost of hauling thousands of products to store shelves. When oil climbs, those costs eventually show up in what you pay. That's the worry right now: that the US/Iran war could reignite inflation and push the Fed to raise rates.

Source: Trading Economics

Mortgage rates hit a new 2026 high

Hot jobs numbers, plus renewed back-and-forth strikes between the US and Iran, have oil prices, inflation fears, bond yields, and mortgage rates all heading up. Freddie Mac's weekly lender survey puts the average 30-year rate at its highest point this year. If you're house hunting or thinking about a refinance, it's worth checking with your lender on where your numbers land now.

Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Pima County market check: August

$359,000

Median sale price

1,037

Homes sold

35 days

Median days on market

Prices are holding. Sales are slowing. That's the short version.

The median sale price in August was $359,000, up 4.1% from last August. Year to date, the median is $359,990, flat compared to this point last year. No crash. No rocket ship.

What changed is volume. August had 1,037 sales, down 10.1% from a year ago. New listings ticked up 1.9%, while new pendings dropped 9.2%. More homes are coming on, and fewer are going under contract. The homes that did sell went under contract in a median of 35 days, six days faster than last August.

Pricing is where you feel it. On average, homes sold about 1.66% under asking in August. Of the 4,444 active listings on September 16, 45% had taken at least one price cut, and the average cut was 6%.

If you're buying, the numbers show sellers negotiating more than they were a few years ago. If you're selling, the data makes a strong case for pricing carefully from day one. Listings that ended up cancelled sat a median of 76 days first.

Want to see what this looks like for your zip code or price range? Reach out and I'll pull it.

Source: MLS of Southern Arizona, Pima County, data as of 9/16/2026. Stats vary by area and price range.

Vendor spotlight: Rachel Castillo, Rachel Marie Photography

Vendor spotlight: Rachel Marie Photography

You may have noticed some new photos of me lately. Those are Rachel's work.

Rachel took my very first professional headshot, back when my hair was peach. I loved that photo, and I loved how she made me feel while she took it. After that, I got by with single headshots at discount headshot events. This year I decided to stop cutting corners.

So I splurged on a full branding session: professional hair and makeup, plus multiple outfits. Rachel helped me pick the looks based on my personality and the things I love to do. The result looks like me, not a stock photo of a realtor.

She also let me bring my cat Naomi to the studio. Yes, the cat came to work. No, I'm not sorry.

Rachel has a way of making you feel beautiful, strong, and fun without tipping into silly. I liked the final images so much that I bought a few more than my package included.

If you need branding photos for your business, or legacy portraits just for you, Rachel is someone I actually vouch for. Read the full story of my session here.

Rachel Marie Photography

4400 E. Broadway Blvd. #114, Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 355-3488
rachelmarie.photography

Disclosure: Rachel and I are both members of BNI and refer business to each other. I don't receive payment for referrals.

That's the month. Clean the window tracks, keep an eye on rates, and go get your picture taken by someone who makes you feel good about it.

If you're wondering what this market means for your own plans, whether that's buying, selling, or just being curious, reach out. There's no pitch waiting on the other end, just a real conversation. And if someone in your life is starting to think about a move, I'd be glad to be the person you send them to.

Come as you are, leave with the keys.

Jennifer Winchester, Associate Broker
Realty Executives Arizona Territory