Residents from Northern California are driving demand in Arizona's home market. According to a report from Realtor.com, Sacramento capital is coming to the market to purchase a second home. The activity has helped push demand in Arizona to one of the top housing markets in the country since 2017. This trend has been true for both single-family homes as well as condos.

“As a certain part of the population starts to contemplate life changes, like retirement, they are looking for an amenities-rich lifestyle, experience-driven and long-term affordability,” Crel Vogel, a sales manager at Optima Kierland, tells GlobeSt.com. “Many have come accustom to an elevated life experience and are looking to maintain or expand on that experience for a longer period – into and past retirement. Many times that means leaving higher taxed areas, trading in their homes and moving to a more affordable location that offers all of the amenities and experiences that they will be able to sustain for a long time.”

Optima Kierland, know for luxury high-rise residences in Phoenix, is seeing a significant impact from Northern California buyers. The trend started about five years ago, and has continued to gain momentum. “There was a fairly healthy migration to Prescott for years from mostly northern California, and that appears to be transitioning from Southern California into the Valley's Metro area,” says Vogel. “While Prescott is a wonderful sleepy town, many people prefer more activity and experiences that a larger city, like Scottsdale and Phoenix, offers. Along with the rest of the country, Arizona has seen a huge improvement in the housing market, which comes with appreciation. With that being said, our prices are a bargain in many cases for Californians.”