TUCSON, AZ (March 24, 2026) —Tucson’s long-held reputation as a “hidden gem” is giving way to something larger: a city increasingly recognized on the national stage, but also confronting the pressures that come with rapid growth, including the challenge of preserving its affordability edge.
That was the message from Tucson Association of REALTORS® CEO Romeo Arrieta in advance of the group’s upcoming Power of Real Estate Summit, set for March 27, where business and civic leaders are expected to discuss how housing, infrastructure, and economic development must work together to sustain Southern Arizona’s momentum.
Arrieta, who has worked in major economic centers including Dallas, Austin, and the San Francisco Bay Area, said Tucson’s relative affordability has long given the region a competitive edge. But he warned that the advantage is becoming harder to preserve as home prices rise and national interest in the market intensifies…