In the Tucson real estate market, the area with particularly high prices is the northeastern region, surrounded by mountains and resorts.

Catalina Foothills is the first upscale residential area mentioned in Tucson. Located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, it offers a landscape where the desert meets the mountains, with median home prices estimated between $650,000 and $800,000.

The Ventana Canyon area is also worth noting. Centered around the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, it features golf courses and large lot homes, with median prices in this area ranging from $900,000 to $1.1 million, which is even higher than Catalina Foothills.

Historically, the areas around Colonia Solana and Tucson Country Club are also considered traditional upscale neighborhoods. Many homes built in the Spanish Colonial style from the 1920s and 1930s can be found here, with median prices around $550,000 to $700,000.

The background for these areas becoming upscale neighborhoods includes the high ratings of the Catalina Foothills Unified School District, the mountainous scenery, and the resort and golf infrastructure. The maintenance of low-density development, unlike the urban center near the University of Arizona, also seems to be a factor pushing prices up.

The overall median price in the Tucson metro area is around $290,000 to $320,000, but Catalina Foothills is more than double that, and Ventana Canyon is nearly three times higher. It is evident that there is a significant price gap between the foothills and the flatlands, even within Tucson.

There is a tendency for Korean retirement households or those seeking second homes for investment to concentrate mainly in Catalina Foothills. The mild winter climate, golf infrastructure, and relatively low cost of living are strengths of Tucson as a whole, but this area particularly offers both convenience and scenic views.

• Catalina Foothills - median price around $650,000 to $800,000, mountain views and school district
• Ventana Canyon - median price around $900,000 to $1.1 million, resort and golf community
• Colonia Solana/Tucson Country Club - median price around $550,000 to $700,000, historic Spanish Colonial homes

Tucson has relatively lower entry prices compared to Phoenix, so for Korean households considering retirement relocation or investment properties, it is useful to compare Catalina Foothills and Ventana Canyon together.