Tempe, AZ 85281 Real Estate Market Report

ZIP Code: 85281
Report Date: May 2026
Market Temperature: NEUTRAL
Scope: This ZIP code analysis focuses on single-family residential (SFR) properties. Metrics are calculated from recent sales and active listings within the past 90 days.

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Market Overview

This analysis is based on a sample of properties from this ZIP code (up to 200 sold properties and up to 100 active properties). The median prices below are calculated from all available properties in the sample, while trend analysis uses properties from the selected analysis window.

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Market Metrics

Note: The property counts shown above represent only the properties analyzed in this report sample, not the total inventory for this ZIP code. Median prices are calculated from all available properties in the sample, while trend analysis uses properties from the selected analysis window.

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Rental Market

Note: The relationship between property values and rental rates reflects different market dynamics. Higher-priced properties may have lower rental yields due to factors such as luxury market positioning, owner-occupancy preferences, or long-term appreciation strategies rather than immediate rental income maximization.

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Property Taxes

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Liquidity & Velocity

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Market Trends & Context

Understanding Market Temperature

A Neutral market indicates balanced conditions where neither buyers nor sellers have a strong advantage, typically characterized by flat price trends, extended but stable days on market, and moderate inventory relative to sales.

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Key Findings

1. The neighborhood's primary market indicator, the $450,000 median sold price, points to current transaction value and suggests recent sales are centered near this level rather than at asking price; flat price momentum supports a stabilizing market.

2. There is a notable spread between the $470,000 median listing price and the $450,000 median sold price, which may indicate pricing friction or seller expectation gaps that could prolong negotiation timelines.

3. The 372 median days on market signals slower sales velocity and reduced liquidity relative to faster-turning markets, which may mean buyers can access more negotiating leverage while sellers should expect longer marketing periods.

4. Market context shows a neutral market temperature with moderate interest rate pressure and a down rent year-over-year trend, suggesting residential rents are cooling even as home price movement remains flat, so investors should weigh softer rental growth against stable sale prices.

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Notable Properties

The following 8 properties represent notable market examples and recent transactions that illustrate key market dynamics. These are illustrative examples selected for their significance (top sales, market benchmarks, quick sales) and are not the basis for the statistical calculations shown above.

Tempe, AZ 85281 Real Estate Market Report

ZIP Code: 85281
Report Date: May 2026
Market Temperature: NEUTRAL
Scope: This ZIP code analysis focuses on condominium properties. Metrics are calculated from recent condo sales and active listings within the past 90 days.

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Market Overview

This analysis is based on a sample of properties from this ZIP code (up to 200 sold properties and up to 100 active properties). The median prices below are calculated from all available properties in the sample, while trend analysis uses properties from the selected analysis window.

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Market Metrics

Note: The property counts shown above represent only the properties analyzed in this report sample, not the total inventory for this ZIP code. Median prices are calculated from all available properties in the sample, while trend analysis uses properties from the selected analysis window.

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Rental Market

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Property Taxes

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Liquidity & Velocity

Note: A Sale-to-List Ratio near 100% can occur when properties sell at or near their final listing price after price adjustments during the listing period, even when initial listing prices differ significantly from sale prices.

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Market Trends & Context

Understanding Market Temperature

A Neutral market indicates balanced conditions where neither buyers nor sellers have a strong advantage, typically characterized by flat price trends, extended but stable days on market, and moderate inventory relative to sales.

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Key Findings

1. The primary indicator of market value is the median sold price, $324,000, which reflects recent completed transactions and anchors local valuation; this suggests a representative recent sale level amidst a market that appears neutral in temperature.

2. There is a notable spread between the median listing price ($387,000) and the median sold price ($324,000), which may indicate pricing friction or seller expectation gaps and suggests negotiation room for informed buyers; monitor listing-to-sale convergence for signs of stabilization (flat price trend year-over-year).

3. Market velocity is slow as indicated by a median days on market of 419 days, which points to slower sales velocity and extended holding periods for sellers rather than immediate turnover pressure.

4. Rental context shows a median market rent of $1,700 with a year-over-year rent trend listed as down, implying softer short-term rental income growth and reduced rent appreciation pressure for investors evaluating cash flow assumptions.

5. Price per square foot remains elevated at $306 per sqft, reinforcing that per-unit area values are firm even as overall transaction pace is muted; given moderate interest rate pressure (moderate), expect buyers to be selective and negotiations to continue favoring careful pricing strategies.

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Notable Properties

The following 8 properties represent notable market examples and recent transactions that illustrate key market dynamics. These are illustrative examples selected for their significance (top sales, market benchmarks, quick sales) and are not the basis for the statistical calculations shown above.